Oregon Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

The term "dyschromia" refers to any abnormality in pigmentation of the skin. This can manifest as hyperpigmentation, where areas of the skin become darker than the surrounding skin, or hypopigmentation, where areas become lighter. Dyschromia encompasses a variety of pigmentation disorders, including age spots, melasma, and albinism. Understanding this term is crucial for estheticians because recognizing different manifestations of skin pigmentation can help in accurately assessing skin types, conditions, and tailoring appropriate treatments for clients.

While other terms listed, such as "stain," refer to discolorations typically caused by external factors or applications, they do not encompass the broader concept of abnormal skin pigmentation. "Vitiligo" and "leucoderma" are specific conditions associated with loss of skin pigmentation. Therefore, these latter terms are subsets of the broader category of dyschromia.