The Fitzpatrick Scale is a numerical classification schema for the color of skin. It was developed in 1975 by Thomas B. Fitzpatrick

Thomas B. Fitzpatrick

Thomas B. Fitzpatrick was a Chairman of the Department of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School and Chief of the Massachusetts General Hospital Dermatology Service from 1959 to 1987....

, a Harvard dermatologist, as a way to classify the response of different types of skin to UV

Ultraviolet

Ultraviolet light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength shorter than that of visible light, but longer than X-rays, in the range 10 nm to 400 nm, and energies from 3 eV to 124 eV...

light. It remains a recognized tool for dermatologic research into the color of skin.

It measures several components: Genetic Disposition, Reaction to Sun Exposure and Tanning Habits

The Fitzpatrick Scale:

• Type I (scores 0-7) White; very fair; freckles; typical albino skin.

Always burns, never tans

• Type II (scores 8-16) White; fair.

Usually burns, tans with difficulty

• Type III (scores 17-25) Beige; very common.

Sometimes mild burn, gradually tans

• Type IV (scores 25-30) Beige with a brown tint; typical Mediterranean Caucasian skin.

Rarely burns, tans with ease

• Type V (scores over 30) Dark brown.

Very rarely burns, tans very easily

• Type VI Black.

Never burns, tans very easily