Fitzpatrick Classification of skin types (type) 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 and 6

Last edited 03/2020 and last reviewed 05/2023

Fitzpatrick Classification of Skin Types I through VI

Type I White skin. Always burns, never tans.
Type II Fair skin. Always burns, tans with difficulty.
Type III Average skin color. Sometimes mild burn, tan about average.
Type IV Light-brown skin. Burns minimally, tans easily.
Type V Brown skin. Rarely burns, tans darkly easily.
Type VI Black skin. Heavily pigmented. Never burns, tans very easily.

 

For more details and images for each skin type then click here

Reference:

  • Cutaneous Melanoma: Etiology and Therapy [Internet].Ward WH, Farma JM, editors.Brisbane (AU): Codon Publications; 2017 Dec 21.