What Is the Fitzpatrick Scale? Dermatologists Explain the 6 Skin Types
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Updated: Sep 29, 2026 Jun 22, 2023 Getty Images In This ArticleWhat is the Fitzpatrick scale?What are the six different skin types on the Fitzpatrick scale?How do dermatologists use the Fitzpatrick scale?Criticisms of the Fitzpatrick scaleAs skin-care education becomes more widespread online, one clinical term keeps surfacing on our feeds: the Fitzpatrick scale. Yet despite its growing visibility, this decades-old classification system remains widely misunderstood outside of dermatology offices. Here, top derms break down exactly what the Fitzpatrick scale is and how it’s used to guide treatment decisions in-office.