Which skin condition is a brown or wine-colored discoloration?

Port-wine stain is a type of vascular malformation characterized by a brown or wine-colored discoloration of the skin. This condition is caused by an overabundance of capillaries (tiny blood vessels) near the surface of the skin, which leads to the distinctive dark red or purple coloration. Port-wine stains typically appear at birth and can vary in size; they do not fade over time and may change in color or become more pronounced as a person ages.

In contrast, psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that often presents as red, scaly patches rather than discolorations characterized by a brown or wine color. Chloasma, also known as melasma, manifests as brown patches on the skin, often due to hormonal changes, but it does not present in the wine color characteristic of port-wine stains. Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that generally presents with red, inflamed skin and is not typically associated with any brown or wine-colored discolorations.

Understanding the defining characteristics of these conditions is crucial for distinguishing between them and accurately identifying port-wine stains.