The Fitzpatrick Scale (also Fitzpatrick skin typing or Fitzpatrick photo typing scale) is a numerical classification schema for the color of your skin. This very useful classification method was developed in 1975 by Dr. Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, a Harvard dermatologist, as a way to classify the response of different types of skin to UV light, and determine how best to apply various modalities, including chemical peels.
- Type I -Pale white; blond or red hair; blue eyes; freckles always burns. Never tans.
- Type II- White; fair; blond or red hair; blue, green or hazel eyes. Usually burns, tans minimally.
- Type III- Cream white; fair with any hair or eye color; quite common sometimes mild burn, usually tans.
- Type IV- Moderate brown; typical Mediterranean skin tone rarely burns. Always tans well
- Type V - Dark brown; Middle Eastern skin types Very rarely burns, tans very easily.
- Type IV- Black; African descendant; never burns, always tans.
- Type VI - Deeply pigmented dark brown to black never burns, tans very easily