Fitzpatrick Test: Identifying your skin type

If you have ever tried to find the perfect foundation, you might have heard of the Fitzpatrick test. The Fitzpatrick Scale is the most widely-used method for determining skin types, which is helpful in determining appropriate aesthetic treatments and skin care for each individual. This rating system measures the amount of pigment in the skin and tolerance one’s skin has to the sun. Benefits of knowing your Fitzpatrick The Fitzpatrick test allows one to understand which treatments will work best and which treatments could cause unwanted side effects. By assessing the rating, one can determine what kind of results can be expected from an aesthetic treatment. Skin types IV-VI run a higher chance of pigmentation with treatments such as chemical peels, dermabrasion, or laser treatment. Knowing your Fitzpatrick is also important to evaluate your risk for skin cancer. Melanin in the skin absorbs and scatters energy from UV light to protect skin cells from sun damage. Skin types with less pigmentation have less melanin and are more susceptible to harmful sun rays. Take the Fitzpatrick’s quiz used by Dermatologists below to find out what your Fitzpatrick Skin Type is. Quick Glance Fitzpatrick Scale Quiz Instructions: Each answer has a numerical value next to it. Choose one answer to each question and add up the numbers associated with your responses. Scoring is available at the end of the quiz. What color are your eyes? 0 – Light blue, gray, green 1- Blue, gray, or green 2 – Blue 3 – Dark Brown 4 – Brownish Black What is your natural hair color? 0 – Sandy red 1 – Blonde 2 – Chestnut/ Dark Blonde 3 – Dark brown 4 – Black What is your skin color (unexposed areas)? 0 – Reddish 1 – Very Pale 2 – Pale with a beige tint 3 – Light brown 4 – Dark brown Do you have freckles on unexposed areas? 0 – Many 1 – Several 2 – Few 3 – Incidental 4 – None What happens when you stay too long in the sun? 0 – Painful redness, blistering, peeling 1 – Blistering followed by peeling 2 – Burns sometimes followed by peeling 3 – Rare burns 4 – Never had burns To what degree do you turn brown? 0 – Hardly or not at all 1 – Light color tan 2 – Reasonable tan 3 – Tan very easily 4 – Turn dark brown quickly Do you turn brown after several hours of sun exposure? 0 – Never 1 – Seldom 2 – Sometimes 3 – Often 4 – Always How does your face react to the sun? 0 – Very sensitive 1 – Sensitive 2 – Normal 3 – Very resistant 4 – Never had a problem When did you last expose your body to the sun (or artificial sunlamp/tanning cream)? 1 – More than 3 months ago 2 – 2-3 months ago 3 – 12 months ago 4 – Less than a month ago 5 – Less than 2 weeks ago Do you expose your face to the sun? (for the purpose of this quiz we have changed this question from the original: Did you expose the area to be treated to the sun?) 1 – Never 2 – Hardly ever 3 – Sometimes 4 – Often 5 – Always Total up your points and match your score below to find your skin type. FITZPATRICK SCALE QUIZ SCORE 0-7 = Type I 8-16 = Type II 17-25 = Type III 25-30 = Type IV Over 30 = Type V-VI Common characteristics of Fitzpatrick skin types Type I – White skin color, blonde hair, and green eyes, always burns in the sun, has freckles. Common ethnic background: English, Scottish. Type II – White skin color, blonde hair, and green/blue eyes, always burns, has freckles and is difficult to tan. Common ethnic background: Northern European. Type III – White skin color, blonde/ brown hair, blue/brown eyes, tans after several burns, and may freckle. Common ethnic background: German. Type IV – Brown skin color, brown hair, and brown eyes, tans more than average, rarely burns, and rarely freckles. Common ethnic background: Mediterranean, Southern European, Hispanic. Type V – Dark brown skin color, brown/black hair with brown eyes. Tans with ease, rarely burns, and no freckles. Common ethnic background: Asian, Indian, some African Type VI – Black skin color, black hair, and brown/black eyes. Tans, never burns, deeply pigmented, and never freckles. Common ethnic background: African.