The Fitzpatrick skin scale: the six skin types

You may have seen skin described as "type II" or "type V" on a skincare site or in a dermatologist's office. Those numbers come from the Fitzpatrick scale, a way of sorting skin by how it reacts to the sun. The scale matters for sunscreen in a direct way: U.S. federal rules use it to choose the people on whom SPF is tested. This guide explains the six types in the words the FDA's rules use, how to find yours, and what each type means for sun protection. It is part of Skinli's guide on how to choose a sunscreen for your face.

Where the scale comes from

The scale is named after Thomas B. Fitzpatrick of the Department of Dermatology at Harvard Medical School. In June 1988 he published a paper in the Archives of Dermatology titled "The validity and practicality of sun-reactive skin types I through VI." "Sun-reactive" is the key word. The scale sorts skin by how it behaves in the sun: how easily it burns and how well it tans.

The six types, in the words of U.S. sunscreen rules

The FDA's rules for testing sunscreen (21 CFR 201.327) describe the six types in plain terms. This is the version to trust, because it is written into federal law.

Type	How the skin reacts to sun (21 CFR 201.327)	Label in the rules
I	Always burns easily; never tans	Sensitive
II	Always burns easily; tans minimally	Sensitive
III	Burns moderately; tans gradually (light brown)	Normal
IV	Burns minimally; always tans well (moderate brown)	Normal
V	Rarely burns; tans profusely (dark brown)	Insensitive
VI	Never burns; deeply pigmented	Insensitive

The rules use the words "sensitive," "normal" and "insensitive" as short names for how strongly each type reacts to sun.

How to find your type

The federal rules give the method: "Skin type is based on first 30 to 45 minutes of sun exposure after a winter season of no sun exposure." In other words, think about the first time you spend half an hour or more in strong sun each year, before your skin has changed color. Then ask two questions:

1. Did your skin burn? Always, easily? Moderately? Minimally? Rarely? Never?
2. Did it tan afterwards? Never? Minimally? Gradually to light brown? Well to moderate brown? A lot to dark brown?

Match your answers to the table. If you fall between two types, the more cautious choice for sun protection is the lower number, which burns more easily. A dermatologist can help if you are not sure.

The scale is based on what your skin does in the sun.

Why sunscreen testing uses the scale

The SPF on a sunscreen label comes from a test on people. The federal rules require that each volunteer be "in good general health with skin type I, II, or III." These are the types that burn easily or moderately.

The rules do not state a reason, but the method explains it. Testers spread sunscreen on small marked areas of each volunteer's back, expose them to measured light from a lamp that copies sunlight, and compare how much light causes redness on protected and unprotected skin. The test measures redness, so it needs skin that reddens. The rules require at least 10 valid results before an SPF number can go on a label.

The AAD recommends sunscreen for every skin type. Testing on types I to III is a choice about measurement. Our guide on how sunscreen works and what SPF means explains the SPF test and the broad spectrum test in more detail.

What each type means for sun protection

Types I and II

These types burn easily. The FDA asks people to take extra care if they have pale skin, or blond, red or light brown hair. The FDA also says "fair-skinned people are likely to absorb more solar energy than dark-skinned people under the same conditions and may be more likely to burn." The NHS asks for extra care if you have pale, white or light brown skin, freckles, red or fair hair, light-colored eyes, or skin that tends to burn rather than tan. The National Cancer Institute lists "fair skin that freckles and burns easily, does not tan, or tans poorly" as a risk factor for skin cancer.

Types III and IV

These types burn sometimes and tan. The FDA says skin tones that can tan, "typically skin types II through V," will probably darken within two days of sun. A tan gives little protection. The FDA says a tan is "a sign of damage" and gives an SPF of only 2 to 4. Our guide on whether you can tan with sunscreen covers this.

Types V and VI

These types rarely or never burn. The NHS says darker skin "has some protection against UV rays," so skin cancer is less likely. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) still recommends sunscreen for everyone. It says skin cancer in darker skin "is often advanced by the time it's diagnosed," often appears in places that get little sun such as the palms, soles and nails, and that the sun's visible light can cause dark spots. For darker skin, the AAD recommends a tinted, broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or higher. Our guide on whether Black people need sunscreen goes into detail.

How sunburn shows on different skin types

Sunburn can look different across the scale, and it can take time to appear. The FDA says the earliest signs are skin that looks flushed, feels tender or painful, or gives off more heat than normal. It says the full effects can take 6 to 48 hours to appear, and that people with medium to dark skin "may not notice any obvious physical signs until several hours later." The American Academy of Dermatology describes sunburn in babies as redness in lighter skin tones and darker areas of skin in darker skin tones.

So a person with type IV, V or VI skin who feels heat or soreness after a day outside may have a sunburn even without redness.

Dark spots and visible light

The scale is about burning and tanning, but the sun also causes dark spots, and here the risk runs the other way. The AAD says, "The darker your skin tone, the higher your risk that UV rays and visible light from the sun will cause dark spots." An AAD news release says research shows visible light from the sun can darken skin in people with darker skin, but not in people with lighter skin.

Regular sunscreen filters ultraviolet light. The AAD recommends tinted sunscreen with iron oxide for protection from visible light, and says the iron oxide appears in the list of inactive ingredients on the label. For people with acne, this matters because pimples often leave dark marks. Our guide on dark marks after pimples explains that side.

Skin type is one risk factor among several

The Fitzpatrick type tells you how your skin reacts to sun. Other facts about you matter too. The FDA asks for extra care if you have been treated for skin cancer or have a family member who has had skin cancer, and says some medicines can make skin more sensitive to the sun. The NHS adds people with lots of moles or freckles, people who are only in strong sun now and then, for example on holiday, and people who spend a lot of time in the sun for work or play.

The NCI lists being exposed to natural or artificial sunlight over long periods of time as a risk factor, alongside fair skin that burns easily.

The same sunscreen rule for every type

Whatever your type, the AAD's recommendation is the same: a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, on all skin not covered by clothing, plus shade, a wide-brimmed hat and sun-protective clothing. The FDA says people of all skin colors are at risk for sunburn and other harm from ultraviolet light.

Your type can help you judge how quickly you might burn and how careful to be with timing and reapplying. For the full checklist of label words, see our guide on how to choose a sunscreen for your face. If you have acne-prone skin, see sunscreen for acne-prone skin for the extra label word to look for.

See a dermatologist for any spot on your skin that is new, growing, bleeding, itching or changing, whatever your skin type.