What skin condition, indicative of Addison's disease, is described as a metallic appearance due to hypofunction of the adrenal cortex?

The skin condition indicative of Addison's disease that is described as having a metallic appearance due to the hypofunction of the adrenal cortex is known as bronzing. This occurs because of an increase in melanin production, which can result from elevated levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) that stimulate the melanocytes, the cells responsible for pigment production in the skin.

In patients with Addison's disease, the adrenal glands do not produce enough cortisol, which leads to compensatory mechanisms in the body, including the overproduction of ACTH. The excess ACTH can lead to an abnormal darkening of the skin, particularly in sun-exposed areas, as well as on non-exposed areas like the creases of the palms and mucous membranes. The characteristic metallic appearance described in the question is a distinctive feature of this condition, which helps in the clinical assessment of Addison's disease.