Dermal means relating to the skin. The word comes from dermis, the thick middle layer of skin that contains blood vessels, nerves, and the roots of your hair follicles.

Doctors and scientists use this word frequently. A dermal injection goes into the skin rather than into a muscle or vein. Dermal tissue is skin tissue. Scientists studying how well sunscreen protects against UV damage examine dermal cells under microscopes.

You'll also see the word in related forms: A dermatologist is a doctor who specializes in treating skin conditions like acne, rashes, or unusual moles. Many animals have dermal armor, like the tough plates covering an armadillo or the scales protecting a fish.

The word appears in everyday products too. Some medicines come in transdermal patches that deliver medicine through the skin.

When you see dermal in any context, it's telling you that something involves, affects, or relates to skin in some way.