Table 1.
Skin pigmentation, the Fitzpatrick scale and UV risk.
| Fitzpatrick phototype | Phenotype | Epidermal eumelanin | Cutaneous response to UV | MED (mJ/cm2) * | Cancer risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Unexposed skin is bright white Blue/green eyes typical Freckling frequent Northern European/British |
+/− | Always burns Peels Never tans |
15–30 | ++++ |
| II | Unexposed skin is white Blue, hazel or brown eyes Red, blonde or brown hair European/Scandinavian |
+ | Burns easily Peels Tans minimally |
25–40 | +++/++++ |
| III | Unexposed skin is fair Brown eyes Dark hair Southern or Central European |
++ | Burns moderately Average tanning ability |
30–50 | +++ |
| IV | Unexposed skin is light brown Dark eyes Dark hair Mediterranean, Asian or Latino |
+++ | Burns minimally Tans easily |
40–60 | ++ |
| V | Unexposed skin is brown Dark eyes Dark hair East Indian, Native American, Latino or African |
++++ | Rarely burns Tans easily and substantially |
60–90 | + |
| VI | Unexposed skin is black Dark eyes Dark hair African or Aboriginal ancestry |
+++++ | Almost never burns Tans readily and profusely |
90–150 | +/− |
Minimal erythematous dose (MED) is defined as the least amount of UVB radiation that causes reddening and inflammation of the skin 24–48 h after exposure (i.e., the lowest UV dose that causes sunburn). The more UV sensitive an individual is, the lower the MED of his/her skin.