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Know Your Skin Type

The Fitzpatrick skin type classification (below), based on a person’s reaction to sun exposure at the beginning of the spring season, is helpful to identify your risk based on your skin type and reaction when in the sun.

Fitzpatrick Skin Typing Test

This skin type test is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your dermatologist or other qualified physician with any questions you may have regarding a your skin.

Skin type is often categorized according to the Fitzpatrick skin type scale which ranges from very fair (skin type I) to very dark (skin type VI).

The three main factors that influence skin type are:

  1. Genetic disposition: Skin type is determined genetically and is one of the many aspects of your overall appearance, which also includes color of eyes, hair, etc..
  2. Reaction to sun exposure The way your skin reacts to sun exposure is another important factor in correctly assessing your skin type.
  3. Tanning habits: How often do you tan?
1. Genetic Disposition
Score 0 1 2 3 4
What are the color of your eyes? Light Blue, Gray or Green Blue, Gray or Green Blue Dark Brown Brownish Black
What is the natural color of your hair? Sandy Red Blond Chestnut/Dark Blond Dark Brown Black
What is the color of your skin (non exposed areas)? Reddish Very Pale Pale with Beige Tint Light Brown Dark Brown
Do you have freckles on unexposed areas? Many Several Few Incidental none
Total Score for Genetic Disposition: ______

 

2. Reaction to Sun Exposure

Score 0 1 2 3 4
What happens when you stay in the sun too long? Painful redness, blistering, peeling Blistering followed by peeling Burns sometimes followed by peeling Rare Burns Never had Burns
To what degree do you turn brown? Hardly or not at all Light color tan Reasonable tan Tan very easy Turn Dark Brown Quickly
How deeply do you tan? Not at all or very little Lightly Moderately Deeply Very Deeply
How does your face react to the sun? Very Sensitive Sensitive Normal Very Resistant Never had a Problem
Total Score for Reaction to Sun Exposure: ______

 

3. Tanning Habits

Score 0 1 2 3 4
When did you last expose your body to sun (or artificial sunlamp)? More than 3 months ago 2-3 months ago 1-2 months ago Less than a month ago Less than 2 weeks ago
Total Score for Tanning Habits: ______

 

Add up the total scores for each of the three sections for your Skin Type Score. Then check the skin type description below.

Skin Type Score Fitzpatrick Skin Type
0-7 I
8-16 II
17-25 III
26-30 IV
over 30 V-VI

 

You may find that you are in the extremes of two types. You may have features from both.

Though everyone is at risk for damage as a result of excessive sun exposure, people with skin types I and II are at the highest risk and are most susceptible to photoaging.

Type I - Always burns, never tans

Type II - Usually burns, then tans

Type III - May burn, tans well

Type IV - Rarely burns, tans well

Type V  - Very rarely burns, tans well, brown skin

Type VI - Very rarely burns, tans well, very dark skin

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