Fitzpatrick skin type.

Worked example

Hazel eyes (2), dark blonde hair (2), beige skin (2), a few freckles (2), a mild burn (2), reasonable tan (2), sometimes browns within hours (2), normal face reaction (2), last sun 1 to 2 months ago (2), moderate exposure (2): total 20, which is type III (14 to 20).

How it works

Each answer scores 0 (most sun-sensitive) to 4 (least). The total, 0 to 40, maps to a type: 0-6 type I, 7-13 type II, 14-20 type III, 21-27 type IV, 28-34 type V, 35-40 type VI. The scale was proposed by Thomas Fitzpatrick in 1975 and refined in 1988 to describe sun-reactive skin types by how skin burns and tans.

The result feeds the sunburn time calculator. The questions here are written for this tool in the style of the scored self-assessment used in dermatology clinics; they are not a validated clinical instrument.

What this is not. The scale describes how skin reacts to sun, not how much risk it faces. All skin types can develop skin cancer, and deeply pigmented skin tends to be diagnosed later. Types are not the same as skin colour, and the scale is not a good guide to makeup shade.

Sources and basis: Fitzpatrick TB, The validity and practicality of sun-reactive skin types I through VI, Arch Dermatol 1988;124(6):869-871; Health Canada, UV index and sun safety.

FAQ

What is the Fitzpatrick scale?

A six-point scale from I to VI that groups skin by how it reacts to sun: type I always burns and never tans, type VI almost never burns. It is used in dermatology and sun-safety advice.

What Fitzpatrick type am I if I burn easily?

Burning easily and tanning little or not at all is type I or II. Sometimes burning and tanning gradually is type III.

Does my Fitzpatrick type decide my makeup shade?

No. It describes sun reactivity. For shade depth and undertone try the skin tone ITA calculator, then swatch in daylight.

Do type V and VI skin need sunscreen?

Yes. Deeply pigmented skin burns less easily but still takes UV damage. Health Canada advises sun protection for everyone when the UV index is 3 or higher.

Can my type change?

The type reflects your natural skin. A tan does not change it, and you should answer for skin that has not recently been tanned.