Why the Fitzpatrick Scale Matters
The Fitzpatrick scale classifies exactly how much pigment our skin has, and therefore how much sun exposure we can handle without our skin reacting. In our line of profession, MAe’s use the Fitzpatrick scale to determine which procedures will suit your skin type without distorting your pigmentation, as well as what type of reaction your skin will have with previous damage. This helps us not only determine which procedures are suitable for you, but which machine will give you the safest and more effective results for laser hair removal and pigmentation.
A common misconception is that the Fitzpatrick scale determines your skin shade – this is incorrect, this scale determines your skins ability to handle light, sun, and treatments.
So, what determines which skin type you are?
The Fitzpatrick scale classifies by skin type:
Skin type I:
This skin type before sun exposure is typically light, ivory skin
Skin type characteristics:
Natural hair colour: red or light blonde
Eye colour: light blue, light grey, or light green
Sun reaction: skin always freckles, always burns and peels, and never tans
Skin type II:
This skin type before sun exposure is light, fair or pale
Skin type characteristics:
Natural hair colour: blonde
Eye colour: blue, grey, or green
Sun reaction: skin usually freckles, burns and peels often, and rarely tans
Skin type III:
This skin type before sun exposure is fair to beige skin, with golden undertones
Skin type characteristics:
Natural hair colour: dark blonde to light brown
Eye colour: hazel or light brown
Sun reaction: skin might freckle, burns on occasion, and sometimes tans
Skin type IV:
This skin type before sun exposure is olive or light brown skin
Skin type characteristics:
Natural hair colour: dark brown
Eye colour: dark brown
Sun reaction: doesn’t really freckle, burns rarely, and tans often
Skin type V:
This skin type before sun exposure is dark brown skin
Skin type characteristics:
Natural hair colour: dark brown to black
Eye colour: dark brown to black
Sun reaction: rarely freckles, almost never burns, and always tans
Skin type VI:
This skin type before sun exposure is deeply pigmented dark brown to darkest brown skin
Skin type characteristics:
Natural hair colour: black
Eye colour: brownish black
Sun reaction: never freckles, never burns, and always tans quickly
So, now that we understand how the scale determines your type –
How can you use this to make your skin care regime safer and more effective for you?
Skin types I and II, you have a high risk of:
Sun damage
Skin aging from sun exposure
Melanoma and other skin cancers
Ways to protect yourself
Use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or greater
Wear protective clothing with a UPF rating of 30 or higher, if you plan to be in direct sunlight for extended periods
Wear UV-blocking sunglasses
Limit your sun exposure, seek shade whenever you’re in the sun
Wear a hat with a wide brim to protect your head and face
Check your skin from head to toe each month
Have an annual skin checkup with a doctor
Skin types III to VI, you have a lower risk of:
Developing skin cancer than skin type I and II but, that does not mean you hold no risk of skin cancer from sun exposure
Ways to protect yourself:
Wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or greater
Wear protective clothing if you plan to be in direct sunlight for extended periods
Wear UV-blocking sunglasses
Limit your sun exposure
Wear a hat with a wide brim to protect your head and face
Check your skin from head to toe each month
Have an annual skin checkup with a doctor
Overall, those at an increased risk of developing skin cancer are those who:
Fitzpatrick skin type I and II
Have a compromised immune system
Personal or family history of skin cancer
Fitzpatrick types IV-VI have more melanin in their skin, and the type of melanin is active – hence, treatments are not one suits all. The deeper Fitzpatrick skin types are more prone to hyperpigmentation and post procedure hyperpigmentation, along with a lesser chance of developing cancer.
The Fitzpatrick scale is actually so helpful in determining these vulnerabilities that the FDA has adapted the skin type classification to evaluate SPF.