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What type of skin discoloration is characterized by irregular shapes and varied colors?

  1. Nevus

  2. Stain

  3. Pigmentation

  4. Leucoderma

The correct answer is: Stain

Skin discoloration characterized by irregular shapes and varied colors is best identified as a stain. Stains can occur due to various factors, including sun damage, certain medications, or post-inflammatory pigmentation. Unlike other types of discoloration, stains are not uniform in color or shape, which aligns with the characteristics described. In comparison, a nevus (commonly known as a mole) typically has a consistent color and well-defined borders, making it less variable than a stain. Pigmentation generally refers to uniform changes in skin color due to increased melanin production, such as freckles, which also lacks the irregularity found in a stain. Leucoderma, or vitiligo, is characterized by patches of skin that lose pigment completely, leading to the absence of color rather than varied irregular coloring. Thus, the defining characteristics of a stain make it the correct choice in this context.