mask
[mask]1. a covering for the face, as a bandage, an apparatus for administering anesthesia or oxygen, or a cloth that prevents droplets from the mouth and nose from spreading in the air.
A standard face mask. From Lammon et al., 1996.
2. to cover or conceal, as the masking of the nature of a disorder by unassociated signs or organisms.
3. in audiometry, to obscure or diminish a sound by the presence of another sound of different frequency.
mask of pregnancy popular term for melasma gravidarum.
Venturi mask see venturi mask.
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.
melasma
An acquired hypermelanosis with “blotchy” coalescent hyperpigmented macules occuring in sun-exposed areas, especially of the face and neck, which is typically seen in pregnancy or with OC use; it is caused by oxidation of tyrosine to melanin and usually regresses with delivery. A similar mask may appear in men without abnormal hormone levels, and in patients treated with phenytoin.Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
mask of pregnancy
Melasma, see there.McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
me·las·ma
(mĕ-laz'mă)A patchy or generalized pigmentation of the skin.
See also: chloasma
See also: chloasma
[G. a black color, a black spot]
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012