dermatomyositis

noun

der·​ma·​to·​my·​o·​si·​tis ˌdər-mə-tō-ˌmī-ə-ˈsī-təs 

(ˌ)dər-ˌma-

: polymyositis that is accompanied by involvement of the skin and that is marked especially by reddish erythematous eruptions usually on the face, neck, upper trunk and distal half of the limbs and by violet-colored erythema of the eyelids and region over the upper eyelids

Examples of dermatomyositis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Meanwhile, Amy Gleason’s daughter, Morgan, was diagnosed as a child with juvenile dermatomyositis, a rare immune disease. —Michael L. Millenson, Forbes.com, 3 July 2025

The condition that Gleason’s daughter, who is now in her mid-20s, was diagnosed with is called juvenile dermatomyositis. —Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News, 10 Mar. 2025

Ultimately, Callas was diagnosed with dermatomyositis in 1975, according to The Sydney Morning Herald, a rare inflammatory disease that causes muscle weakness. —Katie Mannion, People.com, 13 Dec. 2024

One tangible explanation for Callas losing her voice was her dermatomyositis diagnosis in 1975, a somewhat rare disease that causes muscle inflammation, difficulty swallowing, shortness of breath, weight loss, and more. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 12 Dec. 2024

The National Institutes of Health reports that the mortality rate for patients with MDA5 dermatomyositis is approximately 50%, with most deaths occurring during the early stages of the illness. —Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 25 Sep. 2024

This includes conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, Sjögren syndrome, systemic sclerosis, polymyalgia rheumatica, mixed connective tissue disease, dermatomyositis, polymyositis, polyarteritis nodosa, or vasculitis. —Anuradha Varanasi, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

circa 1899, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for dermatomyositis

• glomerulonephritis
• osteomyelitis
• poliomyelitis
• adenitis
• arteritis
• blepharitis
• cervicitis
• cholangitis
• choroiditis
• decubitus
• dermatitis
• fasciitis

Medical Definition

dermatomyositis

noun

der·​ma·​to·​my·​o·​si·​tis -ˌmī-ə-ˈsīt-əs 

plural dermatomyositises or dermatomyositides -ˈsit-ə-ˌdēz 

: polymyositis that is accompanied by involvement of the skin and that is typically marked by reddish erythematous eruptions especially on the face, neck, upper trunk and distal half of the limbs, by periorbital edema, by violet-colored erythema of the eyelids and region over the upper eyelids, and sometimes by cutaneous vasculitis or subcutaneous calcification

The specific trigger for dermatomyositis is not known, but it is thought that several cancers can produce or incite the body to produce antibodies, proteins, and hormones.

—Stewart Massad, Discover

—abbreviation DM