'atrophoderma' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'a-' (negative prefix) + 'trophe' (nourishment) and 'derma' (skin), where 'a-' meant 'not', 'trophe' meant 'nourishment', and 'derma' meant 'skin'.

'atrophoderma' is a New Latin/medical coinage formed from Greek components ('atrophē'/'trophe' + 'derma') and entered medical English usage in the late 19th to early 20th century to denote skin atrophy.

Initially the components literally conveyed 'skin without nourishment'; over time the term has come to designate the clinical condition of localized skin atrophy and its characteristic lesions.