Fitzpatrick Scale Skin Type Test and Results

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2020/01/17 - Updated: 2025/03/08
Publication Type: Charts, Graphs, Tables
Topic: Medical Calculators and Charts - Publications List

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This information introduces the Fitzpatrick Scale, a system developed in 1975 by dermatologist Thomas B. Fitzpatrick to classify human skin types based on their response to ultraviolet (UV) exposure. It outlines six distinct skin types, ranging from very fair (Type I) to very dark (Type VI), detailing each type's typical reaction to sun exposure. The resource includes a self-assessment test, allowing individuals to identify their skin type by evaluating genetic factors and reactions to sun exposure. Understanding one's Fitzpatrick skin type is crucial for predicting sun damage risk and implementing appropriate sun protection measures, which is particularly important for individuals with disabilities or seniors who may have heightened skin sensitivity or limited mobility, making them more susceptible to UV-related skin conditions. The scale was initially developed based on skin color and has been adapted over time; however, it may not account for all individual variations, particularly among diverse populations. - Disabled World (DW).

Introduction

The Fitzpatrick scale was originally developed on the basis of skin color to measure the correct dose of UVA for PUVA therapy. The initial testing was based on human hair and eye color only and later adjusted to be based on how a persons skin responds to the sun, and also extended to cover a wider range of human skin types. Cosmetic professionals also use the Fitzpatrick scale to accurately produce cosmetic products for all skin types.

Focus

The current Fitzpatrick skin type classification denotes 6 different skin types, skin color, and reactions to sun exposure which ranges from very fair (skin type I) to very dark (skin type VI) depending upon whether the patient burns at the first average sun exposure or tans at the first average sun exposure. (Table 1).

Fitzpatrick Skin Typing

Take the quiz below to discover your skin type.

If self-assessing, Fitzpatrick skin typing should be used as a guide rather than a definitive skin type. A person may find their skin does not fit completely into any one category.

The skin types listed below are numbered according to how much melanin is present in the skin. The role of melanin in the skin is to absorb and scatter energy from Ultra Violet light to protect the skin epidermal cells from damage. Melanin provides considerable protection from sun damage, and the degree of protection corresponds directly to the degree of pigmentation.

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Fitzpatrick Skin Type Test Questions

(1) - Genetic Disposition

How many freckles do you have on unexposed areas of your skin?

Many - Score 0 points
Several - Score 1 point
A few - Score 2 points
Very few - Score 3 points

Your natural hair color is:

Red or light blonde - Score 0 points
Blonde - Score 1 point
Dark blonde or light brown - Score 2 points
Dark brown - Score 3 points
Black - Score 4 points

Your eye color is:

Light blue, light gray or light green = 0 points

Blue, gray or green - Score 1 point
Hazel or light brown - Score 2 points
Dark brown - Score 3 points
Brownish black - Score 4 points

Your natural skin color (nonexposed areas) is:

Ivory white - Score 0 points
Fair or pale - Score 1 point
Fair to beige, with golden undertone - Score 2 points
Olive or light brown - Score 3 points
Dark brown or black - Score 4 points

Total score for genetic disposition = ______

(2) - Reaction to Extended Sun Exposure

Does your skin tan?

Never, I always burn - Score 0 points
Seldom - Score 1 point
Sometimes - Score 2 points
Often - Score 3 points
Always - Score 4 points

How does your skin respond to the sun?

Always burns, blisters and peels - Score 0 points
Often burns, blisters and peels - Score 1 point
Burns moderately - Score 2 points
Burns rarely, if at all - Score 3 points
Never burns - Score 4 points

How sensitive is your face to the sun?

Very sensitive - Score 0 points
Sensitive - Score 1 point
Normal - Score 2 points
Resistant - Score 3 points
Very resistant/Never had a problem - Score 4 points

How deeply do you tan?

Not at all or very little - Score 0 points
Lightly - Score 1 point
Moderately - Score 2 points
Deeply - Score 3 points
My skin is naturally dark - Score 4 points

Total score for reaction to extended sun exposure = ______

Total Score

Add total scores from answers given in part 1 and part 2 of the questionaires

Part 1 Score = ______

Part 2 Score = ______

Total Points = ______

Fitzpatrick Skin Type Self Test

Find your Fitzpatrick skin type, risk factor(s), and ideal protection methods listed below:

Table 1 - Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale
Type 1 Skin
Score	Eye Color	Description
0 - 6	Light green Light blue Light gray	Skin Type: Always burns, never tans (palest; freckles). Low potential for scarring. Example: Red hair and freckles. Risk Factor: You are extremely susceptible to skin damage as well as cancers like basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma types of skin cancer. Prevention: Stay mainly in shaded areas when you are outdoors. Cover up as much as possible with a hat, sun-protective clothing, and sunglasses. Wear a SPF 30+ broad-spectrum sunscreen. Check your skin all over monthly. Have an annual professional skin examination. Inform your doctor about suspicious growths.
Type 2 Skin
Score	Eye Color	Description
7 - 13	Green Blue Gray	Skin Type: Usually burns, tans minimally. Risk of scarring low unless the wound is slow to heal. Example: Fair skinned, fair haired Caucasians, northern Asians. Risk Factor: Your skin almost always burns and rarely tans in the sun. You are highly susceptible to skin damage as well as cancers like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. You are also at high risk for melanoma - the deadliest type of skin cancer. Prevention: Seek shade when you are out in the sun. Cover up as much as possible with a hat, sun-protective clothing, sunglasses. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+. Check your skin head-to-toe each month. Have an annual professional skin exam. Tell your healthcare provider about suspicious growths.
Type 3 Skin
Score	Eye Color	Description
14 - 20	Light brown Hazel	Skin Type: Sometimes mild burn, tans uniformly. Higher scarring potential than Type 1 or 2. Example: Darker Caucasians, some Asians. Risk Factor: Your skin sometimes burns and sometimes tans in the sun. You are susceptible to skin damage as well as cancers like basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma. You are also at risk for melanoma (the deadliest type of skin cancer). Prevention: Seek shade between 10 AM - 4 PM, when the sun is strongest. Cover up with a hat, sun-protective clothing, and sunglasses. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+. Check your skin head-to-toe each month. Have an annual professional skin exam. Tell your healthcare provider about any suspicious growths.
Type 4 Skin
Score	Eye Color	Description
21 - 27	Dark brown	Skin Type: Burns minimally, always tans well (moderate brown). Type 4 skin scars easily. Example: Mediterranean and Middle Eastern Caucasians, southern Asians. Risk Factor: Your skin tends to tan easily and is less likely to burn. But, you are still at risk of skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma (the deadliest type of skin cancer). Prevention: Seek shade between 10 AM - 4 PM, when the sun is strongest. Cover up with a hat, sun-protective clothing, sunglasses. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+. Check your skin head-to-toe each month. Have an annual professional skin exam. Tell your healthcare provider about any suspicious growths.
Type 5 Skin
Score	Eye Color	Description
28 - 4	Dark Brown	Skin Type: Very rarely burns, tans very easily (dark brown). Rarely burns but has a high risk of scarring. Example: some Hispanics, some Africans. Risk Factor: Your skin tans easily and rarely burns, but you are still at risk of skin cancers. Acral lentiginous melanoma, a very virulent form of the disease, is more common among darker-skinned people. These melanomas tend to appear on parts of the body not often exposed to the sun, and often remain undetected until after the cancer has spread. Prevention: Cover up with a hat, sun-protective clothing, and sunglasses. Seek shade between 10 AM - 4 PM, when the sun is strongest. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+. Check your skin head-to-toe each month. Keep an eye out for any suspicious growths, especially on the palms, soles of the feet and mucous membranes. Tell your healthcare provider about any suspicious growths, and have an annual professional skin exam.
Type 6 Skin
Score	Eye Color	Description
35 - 36	Dark brown Black	Skin Type: Never burns (deeply pigmented). Very high risk of abnormal scarring. Example: darker Africans, Indigenous Australians. Risk Factor: Although your skin does not burn, you are still at risk for skin cancers. Acral lentiginous melanoma, a very virulent form of the disease, is more common among darker-skinned people. These melanomas tend to appear on parts of the body not often exposed to the sun, and often remain undetected until after the cancer has spread. Prevention: Seek shade between 10 AM - 4 PM, when the sun is strongest. Cover up with a hat, sun-protective clothing, and sunglasses. Wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30+. Check your skin head-to-toe each month. Keep an eye out for any suspicious growths, especially on the palms, soles of the feet and mucous membranes. Tell your healthcare provider about any suspicious growths, and have an annual professional skin exam.

Reproduction of the Von Luschan's chromatic scale made by anthropologist Felix von Luschan.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Editorial Note: While the Fitzpatrick Scale serves as a valuable tool for assessing skin types and potential UV sensitivity, it is essential to recognize its limitations. While the Fitzpatrick Scale provides a useful framework for understanding skin types, it's important to remember that individual variations exist. Factors such as medications, health conditions, and lifestyle changes can affect skin sensitivity. Regular dermatological check-ups and personalized advice from healthcare professionals remain crucial for maintaining optimal skin health, especially for those with unique needs or vulnerabilities. - Disabled World (DW).

Author Credentials: Ian is an Australian-born writer, editor, and advocate who currently resides in Montreal, Canada. He is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.