Skin Type Classification

October 7th, 2009 by admin

Skin Types have been classified since 1975 based on the tendency of the skin to burn and the ability of skin to tan.
This type of scale is called the Fitzpatrick Scale and includes points ranging from lighter to darker skin. The classification is useful to both dermatologists and patients and in helping to determine a patient’s risk of skin damage, burning, wrinkling ad skin cancer.

Here is the Classic Fitzpatrick Scale of Skin Types
Type 1 White Skin- Always Burns, Never Tans
Type 2 White Skin- Always Burns, Minimal Tan
Type 3 White Skin-Burns Minimally, tans moderately and gradually
Type 4 Light Brown Skin-Burns Minimally, tans well
Type 5 Brown Skin- Rarely Burns, tans deeply
Type 6 Dark brown/black skin- Never Burns, tans deeply

Other authors have developed complementary skin-type classifications, to grade skin types based on the ability of the skin to
Pigment: Roberts Hyperpigmentation Scale
Photoaging: Glogau Scale
Scar: Roberts Scarring Scale

References:

The Roberts Skin Type Classification
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology May 2008 Vol 7 Issue 5
Wendy E. Roberts MD

What is your Skin Type?
Skin Cancer Foundation Journal
Vol 26 2008 pgs 32-33

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