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Melasma

Solar lentigo

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SKIN TONE

Your skin tone, often referred as your skin phototype, plays a crucial role in how your skin responds to sunlight and other environmental stressors.  It is not only determined by the amount of melanin your skin produces but also by the predominant type of melanin. There are two types of melanin in your skin:  eumelanin, a dark brown pigment that shields your skin from UV rays, and pheomelanin, a reddish/yellowish pigment that, rather than protecting your skin, makes it more sensitive to sun damage. Naturally, darker skin tones have higher eumelanin levels and vice versa.

Understanding your skin phototype will help you understand your skin better and be aware of the type of skin discoloration you may be more susceptible to. To help people identify their skin phototypes, Mr Thomas B. Fitzpatrick introduced a scale in 1975, categorizing skin into six phototypes. Understanding one’s skin phototype is essential for both patients and professionals when addressing skin discoloration concerns.

TEST YOUR SKIN

Skin Type Questionnaire

Determine Your Skin Type

Answer the following questions to discover your skin type according to the Fitzpatrick scale

Question 1 of 10
1. What is your natural eye color?
2. What is your natural hair color?
3. What is your skin color (before sun exposure)?
4. Do you have freckles?
5. How does your skin react to prolonged sun exposure?
6. How long does it take you to burn in the sun?
7. Do you tan after sun exposure?
8. How deeply do you tan?
9. When was the last time you exposed your skin to the sun or any other tanning source?
10. How often do you expose yourself to the sun?
Skin Type

Recommendations for your skin type:

Your answers:

FAIR OR CAUCASIAN (PHOTOTYPES I AND II)

Fair skin, with its characteristic pink undertone, is particularly vulnerable to sun exposure as it has higher rates of pheomelanin, the type of melanin that does not absorb UV rays. This results in a susceptibility to sunburn, premature aging, and increased risk of sun-induced cancer. Those with fair skin must minimize sun exposure and consistently wear high broad-spectrum SPF.

When it comes to skin discoloration, these phototypes usually develop solar lentigines with age, but have lower risk of suffering from melasma or Post-Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation (PIH).

MEDIUM TO OLIVE (PHOTOTYPES III AND IV)

They typically feature medium to olive skin tones typically have hazel or light brown eyes and chestnut hair. While their skin is more resilient to sun rays than fair skin, they can still experience irritation and sunburn. These phototypes produce both eumelanin and pheomelanin, making them more likely to tan gradually and be better protected from sun-induced wrinkles. Nevertheless, they have more chances to develop melasma, PIH, and dark spots than fair skin.

Individuals with phototypes III and IV should wear sunscreen regularly and take precautions against excessive sun exposure to maintain healthy and vibrant skin.

BROWN SKIN (PHOTOTYPES V AND VI)

These phototypes exhibit brown skin, often accompanied by dark eyes and hair. They have a natural advantage in that they produce high amounts of eumelanin, a potent blocker of ultraviolet radiation. This makes them more resilient to sunburn and UV-induced skin damage, like premature aging. However, a potential downside is that their melanocytes, the cells responsible for melanin production, are hyperactive, making them more prone to suffer various types of skin discolorations.