What is my Fitzpatrick Skin Type

Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale: Why It Matters for Aesthetic Treatments

Understanding your Fitzpatrick skin type is essential when planning professional aesthetic treatments such as chemical peels, laser skin resurfacing or IPL treatments. This globally recognised scale helps dermatologists and aesthetic practitioners assess how your skin responds to UV exposure—crucial for determining your risk of hyperpigmentation, scarring, or burning during treatments.

What Is the Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale?

Developed by Dr Thomas B. Fitzpatrick in 1975, this skin classification system measures your skin’s reaction to sun exposure. It categorises skin into six types based on colour, sun sensitivity, and tanning ability. Today, it remains an industry-standard tool for tailoring safe and effective aesthetic treatments for all skin tones.

Why Your Skin Type Influences Treatment Success

Your Fitzpatrick Skin Type plays a key role in:

Choosing the right laser wavelengths.
Adjusting energy levels and treatment depths.
Minimising post-treatment downtime.
Avoiding unwanted side effects like PIH (post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation) or hypopigmentation.

Failure to properly assess your skin type before certain treatments can increase the risk of complications such as:

Burns or blistering
Uneven skin tone
Permanent pigmentation changes
Poor treatment results

Fitzpatrick Skin Type Chart: The Six Categories Explained

Understanding your skin type is the first step toward receiving personalised, risk-aware care. Here's a breakdown of the six skin types:

Type I – Very Fair Skin

Pale, ivory skin tone
Often has red or blonde hair
Always burns, never tans
Extremely sun-sensitive

Type II – Fair Skin

Light complexion
Burns easily, tans minimally
Common in individuals of European descent

Type III – Medium Skin

Beige or light olive skin tone
Sometimes burns, gradually tans
Often associated with Mediterranean skin types

Type IV – Olive to Light Brown Skin

Rarely burns, tans easily
More melanin-rich, lower risk of sunburn
Common in Middle Eastern, Asian, and Latin American skin tones

Type V – Dark Brown Skin

Very rarely burns, tans well
Higher risk of PIH from aggressive treatments
Common in people of African, Caribbean, or South Asian descent

Type VI – Deeply Pigmented Brown to Black Skin

Never burns, always deeply pigmented
Very high melanin levels
More prone to hyperpigmentation and keloid scarring if not treated correctly

Choosing the Right Treatments Based on Skin Type

Customising your treatment based on Fitzpatrick typing is key for:

For example:

Type I–III can tolerate deeper peels and higher-energy lasers.
Type IV–VI require conservative approaches to avoid pigment disruption.

Safe, Personalised Skincare Starts with a Skin Type Assessment

At Skin Renewal, your Fitzpatrick Skin Type is always assessed before any laser or skin resurfacing procedure. This helps ensure that your treatment is safe and tailored to your unique skin needs, maximising results while reducing side effects.

The Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale is more than just a sun exposure guide—it’s the foundation of personalised aesthetic care. Whether you're considering a peel, light-based therapy, or fractional laser, knowing your skin type ensures your treatment plan is both safe and effective.

SKIN RENEWAL AESTHETIC CLINICS

What is My Fitzpatrick Skin Type?

Skin Types