Skincare

Skin type Fitzpatrick: What it is and how it can prevent skin cancer.

Skin type Fitzpatrick

According to research on UV radiation and the skin, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation contributes to an increased risk of developing melanoma by 65% and nonmelanoma skin cancer by 90%. And that’s in addition to damaging your skin and causing skin burn and premature skin aging.

This may sound really scary, but don’t be afraid! You can prevent all this and maintain healthy and youthful-looking skin. How? The Fitzpatrick skin type system will help you better know your skin type, better protect it, and even help you detect potential skin cancer risks.

So what is the Fitzpatrick skin type system? What is it used for? Which skin type Fitzpatrick are you? And how can you protect your skin?  That’s what we will all find out in this article!

Jump In!

1. What is The Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale?

The Skin type Fitzpatrick scale was developed in 1975 by the great dermatologist Thomas Fitzpatrick Equally known as the Fitzpatrick skin prototype, the Fitzpatrick standard was established based on people’s answers about how their skin reacts to sun exposure.

In short, the Fitzpatrick skin type scale is an accurate and effective numerical scale that can help measure how much melanin your skin has after exposure to the sun. 

The Fitzpatrick skin type system is, therefore, an accurate and effective system that can classify your skin type according to the reaction of your skin to the sun and the amount of pigment your skin has.

2. What is The Fitzpatrick Skin Type System Used For?

Skin type Fitzpatrick
It’s important to know your skin type in order to protect it.

Did you know that according to the Skin Cancer Foundation more than 2 people die every hour of skin cancer and 1 in 5 people get skin cancer during their lifetime in the United States?

This may sound scary, but you don’t have to be! Always remember that prevention is better than cure!

The Fitzpatrick skin type system can help you predict if your type of skin is at risk of developing skin cancer at any time in the future. 

3. Why is The Skin Type Fitzpatrick Scale Important? 

In addition to measuring the amount of pigment in your skin, the tolerance your skin has to the sun, and your risks of developing skin cancer, the skin type Fitzpatrick scale is very useful to dermatologists and aesthetic medicine practitioners when it comes to determining the appropriate aesthetic treatments and skincare needed for each skin type.

4. Is The Skin Type Fitzpatrick System Accurate?

According to a study about the accuracy of self-report in assessing Fitzpatrick skin phototypes in 2013, The Fitzpatrick system was found very useful in identifying which skin types were more prone to sunburn and damage. 

However, it also found that the Fitzpatrick test was more effective when the assessment was carried out by a professional, say a dermatologist rather than an individual.

It’s good to note that not everyone’s skin will necessarily fit into one of the six Fitzpatrick skin types. The Fitzpatrick system is a useful guide and definitely not a definitive classification. 

5. Which Skin Type Fitzpatrick Are You? 

Skin type Fitzpatrick scale
The Skin type Fitzpatrick Scale
Type Features of unexposed skin Skin after sun exposure
1Light, ivory skin often with green or blue eyes and fair or red hair.Burns and peels but never tans.
2White skin, often with blue eyes.Burns quickly when exposed to the sun and rarely tans.
3Fair skin with brown eyes and brown hair. May burn when exposed to the sun, but is capable of tanning.
4Light brown skin with dark eyes and dark hair.Burns a little and tans easily.
5Brown skin with dark eyes and hair.Rarely gets a sunburn and always tans under sun exposure.
6Black skin or dark brown with dark hair and eyes. Never burns and tans quickly.
Skin type Fitzpatrick characteristics and comparison table

6. What Does Your Skin Type Fitzpatrick Mean and how to protect it?

Skin types 1 and 2

According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), people with skin type Fitzpatrick 1 and 2 are more prone to develop melanoma skin cancer. People with these two skin types are more at risk of sun damage which eventually can cause the following:

  • Skin burning
  • premature aging of the skin
  • Melanoma and other skin cancers. 

How to protect it?

People with these skin types should take extra precautions to protect their skin from harmful UV rays. For maximum protection, you should follow these tips:

  • Use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of at least 30
  • Limit your sun exposure. 
  • wear protective clothing.
  • Always wear a hat to protect your face and neck.
  • Have an annual check-up with your dermatologist.

Skin types 3 and 4

It’s true that individuals with these skin types have lower skin cancer risk than 1 & 2, but the risk is still there!

How to protect it?

For maximum protection, you should follow these tips:

  • Wear sunscreen with at least SPF 15 or greater. 
  • Limit sun exposure time.
  • Always wear a hat, protective clothes, and if possible UV- blocking sunglasses.
  • Have an annual check-up with your dermatologist.

Skin types 5 and 6

It’s true that skin cancer only accounts for 1–2% of all cancers in people with dark skin, but this doesn’t mean that the risk doesn’t exist. People with skin type Fitzpatrick 5 or 6 do have the risk of developing skin cancer in their lifetime. In fact, the Skin Cancer Foundation states in a report that the survival rate for melanoma skin cancer in dark skin people is 65%, compared with 91% for light skin people. 

So, it might look that the skin types 5 and 6 do not burn from sun exposure, but it’s prone to skin damage, which can eventually lead to skin cancer and early signs of skin aging.

For maximum protection, people with these skin types should follow these tips:

  • Wear sunscreen with at least SPF 15 or greater. (or even better sunscreens that contain nanoparticles of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to avoid ashen or chalky look that other creams give when applied on dark skin). 
  • Limit sun exposure time.
  • Always wear a hat, protective clothes, and if possible UV- blocking sunglasses.
  • Have an annual check-up with your dermatologist.

Takeaway message

Don’t panic!

The Skin type Fitzpatrick scale can help predict a person’s risk of developing skin cancer due to over sun exposure. So, as long as you’re taking the necessary precautions to protect your skin under the sun… you’re fine!

While this remains an accurate and effective way to do so, it’s always good to visit your dermatologist regularly and never neglect unusual changes in your skin. 

Speaking about skin protection in the summertime, why don’t you try these natural facemasks at home, and let me know what you think!

Much love, XOXO

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