Fitzpatrick Skin Type

The most commonly used scheme to classify a persons skin type by their
response to sun exposure in terms of the degree of burning and tanning was
developed by Thomas B. Fitzpatrick*, MD, PhD. Examples are given below.
* Fitzpatrick, T.B. (1988) The validity and practicality of sun reactive skin types I through VI. Arch Dermatol 124; 869-871.

Eye colour Do you turn brown?

Score
0. Light colours 0. Never
1. Blue, gray or green 1. Seldom Skin Type I
06
2. Dark 2. Sometimes
3. Brown 3. Often
Always burns, never
4. Black 4. Always tans (pale white skin)

Natural hair colour How brown do you get?

713 Skin Type II
0. Sandy red 0. Never
1. Blond 1. Light tan Always burns easily,
2. Chestnut or dark blond 2. Medium tan tans minimally
3. Brown 3. Dark tan (white skin)
4. Black 4. Deep dark
1420 Skin Type III
Your skin colour (unexposed Is your face sensitive to the
areas) sun? Burns moderately,
tans uniformly
0. Reddish 0. Very sensitive (light brown skin)
1. Pale 1. Sensitive
2. Beige or olive 2. Sometimes 2127 Skin Type IV
3. Brown 3. Resistant
4. Dark brown 4. Never have a problem Burns minimally,
always tans well
Freckles (unexposed areas) How often do you tan? (moderate brown skin)

0. Many 0. Never 2834 Skin Type V

1. Several 1. Seldom
2. Few 2. Sometimes Rarely burns,
3. Rare 3. Often tans profusely
4. None 4. Always (dark brown skin)

If you stay in the sun too long? When was your last tan? 35+ Skin Type VI

0. Painful blisters, peeling 0. +3 months ago Never burns (deeply

1. Mild blisters, peeling 1. 23 months ago pigmented dark brown
2. Burn, mild peeling 2. 12 months ago to black skin)
3. Rare 3. Weeks ago
4. No burning 4. Days
Images sourced from iStockphoto

* The information published here is not intended to take the place of medical advice. Please seek advice from a qualified
health care professional.