Fitzpatrick Scale

Did you know that your skin’s got a number? Here’s why knowing it can come in handy

the Fitzpatrick Scale. Originally developed in 1975, based on the amount of melanin – that’s the pigment that determines skin colour – in the skin, and therefore the skin’s response to being exposed to the sun, the scale has six skin types. Numbered one to six, each type has some standout or typical features.

What’s the value of knowing your number? On top of being a useful and scientifically proven way of determining skin cancer risk, your Fitzpatrick Scale number can determine which treatments are and aren’t suitable for your skin type.

  • Typical Features

    Pale white skin, blue/green

    Tanning Ability

    Always burns and never tans

    Famous Skin Type 1s

    Nicole Kidman, Cate Blanchett, Emma Stone, Ed Sheeran and Prince Harry

  • Typical Features

    White skin

    Tanning Ability

    Burns easily and tans minimally

    Famous Skin Type 2s

    Margot Robbie, Reese Witherspoon, Taylor Swift, Chris Hemsworth and Hugh Jackman.

  • Typical Features

    Darker white/light brown skin

    Tanning Ability

    Sometimes burns but slowly tans to a light brown

    Famous Skin Type 3s

    Megan Fox, Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and Matthew McConaughey

  • Typical Features

    Moderate brown skin

    Tanning Ability

    Rarely burns and tans easily

    Famous Skin Type 4s

    Eva Longoria, Jennifer Lopez, Sandra Oh, George Clooney, Dev Patel and John Legend

  • Typical Features

    Dark brown skin

    Tanning Ability

    Very rarely burns and tans darkly easily

    Famous Skin type 5s

    Beyonce, Thandie Newton, Halle Berry, Will Smith and Donald Glover

  • Typical Features

    Deeply pigmented dark brown to black skin

    Tanning Ability

    Never burns and always tans darkly

    Famous Skin Types 6s

    Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Campbell, Lupita Nyong’o, Denzel Washington and Eddie Murphy