Skin Types

Your skin type determines your risk of skin cancer.  The Fitzpatrick Skin Type is a skin classification system that was developed in 1975 by Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick of Harvard Medical School.  His skin classification system is the most widely used today, and it is a tool used by dermatologists on a daily basis.  Your Houston Dermatologists use this to determine your risk of skin cancer.

The 6 skin types are:

• Type I  Always burns, never tans 

• Type II Usually burns, then tans 

• Type III May burn, tans well      

• Type IV Rarely burns, tans well  

• Type V Very rarely burns, tans well, brown skin  

• Type VI Very rarely burns, tans well, very dark skin 

Skin types I and II are the most at risk for skin cancer and photoaging. The most important things are to protect your skin from the sun and to schedule a skin cancer screening with a Houston Dermatologist.