Fitzpatrick, 1996
Fitzpatrick’s Skin Type Classification System
Type | Color | Characteristics | Reaction to first sun exposure yearly |
I | White | Irish, pale, freckles | Always burn/never tan |
II | White | Fair-skinned, blonde | Usually burn/tan with difficulty |
III | White | Most Caucasians | Sometimes mild burn/tan average |
IV | Medium brown | Hispanic, Asian | Rarely burn/tan with ease |
V | Dark brown | Middle Eastern. Native American | Rarely burn/tan very easily |
VI | Black | African | Never burn/tan very easily |
Some studies (i.e., Williams) have spilt these categories into subsets like I/II or II/III to indicate people in between these types.