Skin Types and Skin Conditions

The Fitzpatrick Skin Type is a skin classification system first developed in 1975 by Thomas Fitzpatrick, MD, of Harvard Medical School.

In order to determine your Fitzpatrick Skin Type, we measure two components, your genetic disposition and your reaction to sun exposure.

 Types range from the very fair (Type I) to the very dark (Type VI). 

So, grab a piece of paper and discover what your type is.

Once you know your skin type it’s easier to understand why certain treatments are more suitable for you and also how certain products will benefit your skin.

Your eye color is:

Light blue, light gray or light green = 0

Blue, gray or green = 1

Hazel or light brown = 2 

Dark brown = 3

Brownish black = 4

Your natural hair color is:

Red or light blonde = 0

Blonde = 1

Dark blonde or light brown = 2

Dark brown = 3

Black = 4

Your natural skin color (before sun exposure) is:

Ivory white = 0

Fair or pale = 1

Fair to beige, with golden undertone = 2

Olive or light brown = 3

Dark brown or black = 4

How many freckles do you have on unexposed areas of your skin?

Many = 0

Several = 1

A few = 2

Very few = 3

None = 4

Total score for genetic disposition: _______

---

How does your skin respond to the sun?

Always burns, blisters and peels = 0

Often burns, blisters and peels = 1

Burns moderately = 2

Burns rarely, if at all = 3

Never burns = 4

Does your skin tan?

Never -- I always burn = 0

Seldom = 1

Sometimes = 2

Often = 3

Always = 4

How deeply do you tan?

Not at all or very little = 0

Lightly = 1

Moderately = 2

Deeply = 3

My skin is naturally dark = 4

How sensitive is your face to the sun?

Very sensitive = 0

Sensitive = 1

Normal = 2

Resistant = 3

Very resistant/Never had a problem = 4

Total score for reaction to sun exposure: _______

Add up your genetic disposition and sun exposure totals to find your Fitzpatrick Skin Type: ___________________

Type 1: 0-6 points

Type 2: 7-12 points

Type 3: 13-18 points

Type 4: 19- 24 points

Type 5: 25-30

Type 6: 31+

Now we have determined your skin type we can start to explore what treatments are best suited to your skin.

Everyone's skin is normal to them, but in order to care for more diverse skin types, we group people into some skin categories. Determining your skin type is an important first step in knowing how to treat your skin, what products to use, and how to have perfect skin.

Normal skin shows neither oil on the surface nor flaking skin. It should feel supple and smooth. If you have it, consider yourself lucky :)

Oily skin is characterised by an oily shine on the surface of the skin. It is also common for a person with oily skin to have large pores.

Dry skin may feel taut or show flakes of dead skin on the surface. It is associated with small pores. Moisturizing is very important for this skin type.

Combination skin is most common. It shows traits of all three of the above skin types. Usually, the skin is oily in the T-zone and normal to dry elsewhere.