Understanding Your Skin · 5 min
The Fitzpatrick scale, explained
A 1975 dermatology tool that still decides how we set every laser in the building.
By Danika Benny ·
The Fitzpatrick Scale was first introduced in 1975 by Harvard dermatologist Dr Thomas B. Fitzpatrick. It was created to predict how different skin types respond to ultraviolet light, originally to guide safe dosing in phototherapy.
Each skin type, from I to VI, reflects how easily someone burns, tans, or develops pigmentation. Type I always burns and never tans. Type VI is deeply pigmented and rarely burns.
It matters because it is a universal tool for predicting sensitivity, healing, and how the skin responds to lasers, heat, and inflammation. When we set a device for you, this is the first number we look at.
- Skin analysis
- Lasers
- Education
Want this applied to your own skin?
General writing only goes so far. A consultation is complimentary and you leave with a plan written for your skin, not for everybody's.
