Table 1.

Comparison of melanosome volume fractions found in different skin types when compared with dark skin types using the Fitzpatrick skin type classification (Karsten and Smit 2012). An estimate of the corresponding melanin concentration was made using liquid skin-like phantoms that represent skin types I–VI (Bashkatov et al. 2000; Karsten and Smit 2012)

Skin type	Estimated Fitzpatrick skin type	Melanosome volume fraction (percentage as compared with dark skin type)	Melanin concentration (mg/mL)
Very fair	I–II	0.0255 (8.4%)	2.346
Medium	IV–V	0.155 (50.8%)	14.26
Dark	VI	0.305 (100%)	28.06