Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale

In 1975, Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, MD, PhD, of Harvard Medical School, developed a classification system for skin typing. This system was based on a person's complexion and responses to sun exposure. Today, this classification system is also used to aid practitioners in the care of their patients. For successful laser and light therapy, it is necessary to determine your correct skin type.

One of the important parameters for the success of laser treatments is the correct typing of the skin.

Skin type is often categorized according to the Fitzpatrick skin type scale, which ranges from very fair (skin type I) to very dark (skin type VI). The two main factors that influence skin type and the treatment programme devised by physicians are:

• Genetic disposition
• Reaction to sun exposure and tanning habits

Skin type is determined genetically and is one of the many aspects of your overall appearance, which also includes the colour of eyes, hair, etc. The way skin reacts to sun exposure is another important factor in correctly assessing skin types. Recent tanning (sun bathing, artificial tanning or tanning creams) has a major impact on the evaluation of your skin colour.

The Fitzpatrick Skin-Type Chart

You can use this skin-type chart for self-assessment, by adding up the score for each of the questions you’ve answered.

At the end there is a scale providing a range for each of the six skin-type categories. Following the scale is an explanation of each of the skin types. You can quickly and easily determine which skin type you are. In addition, you need to identify another aspect of your skin type. That is whether you have oily, dry, normal or sensitive skin. In order to do this visit ‘What’s my Skin type’.

Genetic Disposition

Score	0	1	2	3	4
What is the colour of your eyes?	Light blue, Grey, Green	Blue, Grey or Green	Blue	Dark Brown	Brownish Black
What is the natural colour of your hair?	Sandy Red	Blond	Chestnut/Dark Blond	Dark Brown	Black
What is the colour of your skin (non exposed areas)?	Reddish	Very Pale	Pale with Beige tint	Light Brown	Dark Brown
Do you have freckles on unexposed areas?	Many	Several	Few	Incidental	none

Total score for Genetic Disposition: _____

Reaction to Sun Exposure

Score	0	1	2	3	4
What happens when you stay in the sun too long?	Painful redness, blistering, peeling	Blistering followed by peeling	Burns sometimes followed by peeling	Rare burns	Never had burns
To What degree do you turn brown?	Hardly or not at all	Light colour tan	Reasonable tan	Tan very easy	Turn dark brown quickly
Do you turn brown within several hours after sun exposure?	Never	Seldom	Sometimes	Often	Always
How does your face react to the sun?	Very sensitive	Sensitive	Normal	Very resistant	Never had a problem

Total score for Reaction to Sun Exposure: _____

 

Tanning Habits

Score	0	1	2	3	4
When did you last expose your body to sun (or artificial sunlamp/tanning cream)?	More than 3 months ago	2-3 months ago	1-2 months ago	Less than a month ago	Less than 2 weeks ago
Did you expose the area to be treated to the sun?	Never	Hardly ever	Sometimes	Often	Always

Total score for Tanning Habits: _____

 

Add up the total scores for each of the three sections for your Skin Type Score.

Skin Type Score - Fitzpatrick Skin Type

0-7	I
8-16	II
17-25	III
25-30	IV
over 30	V -VI

TYPE 1: Highly sensitive, always burns, never tans. Example: Red hair with freckles

TYPE 2: Very sun sensitive, burns easily, tans minimally. Example: Fair skinned, fair haired Caucasians

TYPE 3: Sun sensitive skin, sometimes burns, slowly tans to light brown. Example: Darker Caucasians.

TYPE 4: Minimally sun sensitive, burns minimally, always tans to moderate brown. Example: Mediterranian type Caucasians.

TYPE 5: Sun insensitive skin, rarely burns, tans well. Example: Some Hispanics, some Blacks

TYPE 6: Sun insensitive, never burns, deeply pigmented. Example: Darker Blacks.

Choose the right natural skin care system to suite your skin type...

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