When you make your first appointment with Aesthetician, Dermatologist or a medical practitioner they will have you filling out many different forms. These forms are to give them a better picture of what is you skin issues to enable them to treat your skin. One of these forms will be a Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale Test. In this blog we look at What is a Fitzpatrick Skin Scale Why you need to take this test.
What is Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale?
This is a popular skin classification system developed in 1975 by Thomas Fitzpatrick, MD, of Harvard Medical School. This simple classification measures the skin’s tolerance to sunlight – UV waves – specifically, the skin’s tendency to tan or burn. Dermatologists, Estheticians, and dermal scientists to determine potential reactions to products or treatment procedures use the Fitzpatrick Scale. It is used to determine how a client will respond or react to professional treatments. The scale helps to highlight potential for irritation, pigmentation reactions and the level of how quick the skin will burn. Fitzpatrick skin type I will have a greater tendency to have an irritation reaction but less post inflammatory pigmentation where as a Fitzpatrick skin type VI will be less likely to be develop irritation but has a higher risk of developing post inflammatory pigmentation and scaring.
What are the 6 Fitzpatrick Skin Type?
The chart below shows the 6 types but you cannot just look at your skin and automatically say that is your skin type as it will not be a true indication of your Fitzpatrick Skin Type. The main reason is your generic makeup. You may have light skin but tan easily like me this is because my generic makeup is English/Scottish/French. It is due to the French link that I tan very easy and dark but if you saw me in winter all you see is my pale skin. This multi ethnic mix is why the color of our skin alone cannot determine how we truly react to UV rays and to professional dermal treatments and products. It is the amount of melanin in your skin and how it reacts to the sunlight. The more melanin you have, the more inherent protection you have against UV waves, and the less likely you are to burn.
It is for this reason I issue a huge Warning – If your dermal specialist does not carry out full Fitzpatrick Skin Type Test then do not have any treatments with this practitioner as you may be putting your skin and yourself in harms way.
Read and Take: The The Fitzpatrick Skin Type Test
The Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale
| Skin Type | Skin Color | Reaction to Sun |
| I | Very fair skin, white; red or blond hair; light-colored eyes; freckles likely | Always burns, never tans |
| II | Fair skin, white; light eyes; light hair | Burns easily, tans with difficulty |
| III | Fair skin, cream white; any eye or hair color (very common skin type) | Sometimes burns, gradually tans |
| IV | Olive skin, typical Mediterranean Caucasian skin; dark brown hair; medium to heavy pigmentation | Rarely burns, gradually tans |
| V | Brown skin, typical Middle Eastern skin; dark hair; rarely sun sensitive | Tans |
| VI | Very Dark skin; rarely sun sensitive | Tans easily |
The Fitzpatrick skin test is a very useful diagnosis tool for Professional Dermal Specialist to ensure that the correct treatment is delivered to ensure a positive outcome for you and your skin.
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QUESTION ABOUT YOUR SKIN? Make an Appointment Today or send me an email to debra@debraspence.com
PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may use any items from this article in your print, blog, magazine or electronic newsletter. But in order to do so, you must include the following paragraph “Information courtesy from Debra Spence – Answering your skin problems with Science and Nature. Debra Spence is a Cosmetic Chemist and Skin Specialist that provides skincare and treatment tips, products recommendation and reviews to professional and patients.” and included a link to www.debraspence.com.
Content Copyright © 2016, Debra Spence
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QUESTION ABOUT YOUR SKIN? Make an Appointment Today or send me an email to debra@debraspence.com
PERMISSION TO REPRINT: You may use this article in your print, blog, magazine or electronic newsletter. But in order to do so, you must include the following paragraph “Information courtesy from Debra Spence – Answering your skin problems with Science and Nature. Debra Spence is a Cosmetic Chemist and Skin Specialist who provides skincare and treatment tips, product recommendations and reviews to professionals and patients. www.debraspence.com” Content Copyright © 2017, Debra Spence
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