Find Your Fitzpatrick Skin Type
What the Fitzpatrick Scale Is
The Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale was developed in 1975 by dermatologist Thomas Fitzpatrick at Harvard Medical School. It classifies human skin into six types based on the amount of melanin (pigment) in the skin and how it responds to UV radiation. The scale is used worldwide by dermatologists, medical researchers, and now UV safety apps like SunUp. Your skin type determines how quickly you can burn at a given UV level, what SPF you need, and how your risk of long-term UV damage accumulates over time.
Try it in the app:
Before you open SunUp, think about your natural skin color when you have not been tanned, and how your skin typically responds when you spend time in the summer sun.
Pro tip:
Use your untanned, natural skin color for assessment — not your current tan. The Fitzpatrick type is about your genetic skin characteristics, not your current tan level.