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The Fitzpatrick Skin Phototype Scale: All 6 Types Explained

How easily does your skin tan, and how easily does it burn? This is the classification dermatologists actually use to answer that. The scale describes how skin reacts to UV exposure, not skin tone or ethnicity, and self-assessment is just a starting point -- not a substitute for a dermatologist's guidance on sun protection or in-office treatment.

Type I -- Very Fair

Very fair skin, often with red or light blond hair, frequent freckling, and blue or green eyes. Always burns with sun exposure and almost never tans.

Type II -- Fair

Fair skin, often with blond or light brown hair and blue, green, or gray eyes. Burns easily and tans only minimally, if at all.

Type III -- Medium

A medium skin tone that covers the widest range of hair and eye colors of any type. Sometimes burns mildly but tans gradually and fairly evenly over time.

Type IV -- Olive/Light Brown

Olive or light brown skin, often paired with dark hair and dark eyes. Rarely burns and tans easily.

Type V -- Brown

Deep brown skin tone. Burns very rarely, and tans easily and deeply.

Type VI -- Deep Brown/Black

Deep brown to black skin tone. Almost never burns, and is already deeply pigmented.

Where the scale actually came from

The Fitzpatrick scale was introduced in 1975 by American dermatologist Thomas B. Fitzpatrick, originally to determine the right UV dosage for patients undergoing PUVA phototherapy. It has since become a standard reference tool used far beyond that original purpose, across dermatology, laser and energy-based treatments, and everyday sunscreen advice.

Where it gets used today

In a dermatology or laser clinic, it's commonly used as a rough guide to a patient's risk of pigmentation or scarring before a laser or peel treatment. Outside a clinical setting, people sometimes use it informally to gauge how vulnerable their own skin is to sun exposure and to guide how much sunscreen they use, and how often they reapply it.

Frequently Asked Questions

If I have a deep skin tone, can I skip sunscreen?

No. Type V and VI skin has a much lower burn risk, but that doesn't mean it's unaffected by UV exposure -- long-term sun exposure can still contribute to hyperpigmentation, photoaging, and skin cancer risk regardless of phototype, so sunscreen is still recommended.

How accurate is this self-assessment, really?

The Fitzpatrick scale was originally built around a self-reported questionnaire, so it's a rough approximation rather than a precise measurement, and it doesn't always match how an individual's skin actually behaves in the sun. Treat it as a general reference point, and see a dermatologist for anything requiring a precise assessment.