Michigan Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

What is a port wine stain classified as?

1. Hemangioma

2. Vascular nevus

3. Melanoma

4. Angioma

The correct answer is: Vascular nevus

A port wine stain is classified as a vascular nevus. This classification is based on the nature of the port wine stain, which is a type of birthmark caused by the abnormal development of blood vessels in the skin. Vascular nevi are characterized by their flat, red, or purplish appearance, which is due to the presence of dilated blood vessels near the surface of the skin. In contrast, hemangiomas typically present as raised, red lesions that may grow rapidly during infancy and then gradually fade, which differentiates them from port wine stains that do not change over time. Melanoma, on the other hand, is a serious form of skin cancer that involves pigment-producing cells (melanocytes) and does not relate to the vascular nature of port wine stains. Angiomas can refer to a variety of vascular lesions but do not specifically denote the characteristics unique to port wine stains that clearly categorize them as vascular nevi. Understanding these definitions helps clarify why port wine stains fit into the vascular nevus classification.