Fitzpatrick scale

The Fitzpatrick scale (also Fitzpatrick skin typing test; or Fitzpatrick phototyping scale) is a numerical classification schema for human skin color. It was developed in 1975 by American dermatologist Thomas B. Fitzpatrick as a way to estimate the response of different types of skin to ultraviolet (UV) light. It was initially developed on the basis of skin color to measure the correct dose of UVA for PUVA therapy, and when the initial testing based only on hair and eye color resulted in too high UVA doses for some, it was altered to be based on the patient's reports of how their skin responds to the sun; it was also extended to a wider range of skin types. The Fitzpatrick scale remains a recognized tool for dermatological research into human skin pigmentation.

The following table shows the six categories of the Fitzpatrick scale in relation to the 36 categories of the older von Luschan scale:

Type	von Luschan	Fitzpatrick	Monk	Characteristics
White skin	1	I	1	Pale light skin, always burns, never tans (freckles); very light or white, "Celtic" type
	2
	3
	4		2
	5
Light skin	6	II		Light skin, usually burns, tans minimally (light colored but darker than pale); light or light-skinned European
	7		3
	8
	9
	10
Light/medium beige skin	11	III	4	Light to medium beige skin, sometimes burns, tans uniformly (golden or olive); light intermediate, dark-skinned European; light-skinned Middle eastern; or light-skinned Mediterranean; or light-skinned East Asian
	12
	13
	14
	15		5
Light brown skin	16	IV		Light brown skin, burns minimally, always tans well (moderate brown); dark intermediate or "olive skin"; Middle eastern, Mediterranean, Latin, or South Asian
	17
	18
	19		6
	20
	21
Brown skin	22	V	7	Brown skin, very rarely burns, tans very easily (dark brown); dark or "brown" type
	23
	24
	25		8
	26
	27
	28		9
Dark skin	29	VI	9	Dark skin, never burns (deeply pigmented dark brown to darkest brown); very dark or "black" type; African
	30		10
	31
	32
	33
	34
	35
	36