dermal

adjective

der·​mal ˈdər-məl How to pronounce dermal (audio)
1
: of or relating to skin and especially to the dermis : cutaneous
2

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The word dermal often comes up nowadays in connection with cosmetic treatments. Dermal therapy usually means restoring moisture to dry, cracked skin. Dermal fillers such as collagen can be injected to fill in acne scars or reduce wrinkles. These have now been joined by treatments like Botox, which paralyzes facial dermal muscles, again in order to reduce wrinkles (since those dermal muscles are used to form expressions). A synonym for dermal is cutaneous.

Examples of dermal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
One of these procedures is labia puffing, This is where a doctor injects some kind of dermal filler, like hyaluronic acid or fat, into your labia majora, the outer lips of the vulva, to give them more volume. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025 The patch uses microneedles to collect dermal interstitial fluid (ISF) from just below the top layer of skin cells. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2025 In fact, one popular brand of dermal filler, Sculptra, was originally developed in the 1990s for HIV patients. Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 30 July 2025 These treatments account for 80 percent of all procedures, with neurotoxins (such as Botox) and dermal fillers leading the way—administered routinely by 90 percent of surgeons. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for dermal

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1803, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dermal was circa 1803

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Cite this Entry

“Dermal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dermal. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

dermal

adjective
der·​mal ˈdər-məl How to pronounce dermal (audio)
: of or relating to the dermis or epidermis : cutaneous

Medical Definition

dermal

adjective
der·​mal ˈdər-məl How to pronounce dermal (audio)
1
: of or relating to skin and especially to the dermis : cutaneous
2
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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