The Fitzpatrick scale is a numerical classification for human skin color.
It is a way to estimate the response of different types of skin to ultraviolet (UV) light.
The Fitzpatrick scale is a recognized tool for dermatological research into human skin pigmentation.
Type 0: Albino
Type I: Pale white skin, burns easily, does not tan
Type II: White skin, burns easily, tans with difficulty
Type III: White skin, may burn but tans easily
Type IV: Light brown/olive skin, hardly burns, tans easily
Type V: Brown skin, usually does not burn, tans easily
Type VI: Black skin, very unlikely to burn, becomes darker with UV radiation exposure
Type I (scores 0–6) always burns, never tans (palest; freckles).
Type II (scores 7–13) usually burns, tans minimally
Type III (scores 14–20) sometimes mild burn, tans uniformly
Type IV (scores 21–27) burns minimally, always tans well (moderate brown)
Type V (scores 28–34) very rarely burns, tans very easily (dark brown)
Type VI (scores 35–36) never burns (deeply pigmented dark brown to darkest brown)
The relative risk of developing melanoma for Fitzpatrick type one versus Fitzpatrick type four is 2.09.