What is Fitzpatrick skin type?
The Fitzpatrick skin type scale classifies skin by its response to ultraviolet light, from Type I (always burns, never tans) to Type VI (deeply pigmented, never burns). In aesthetic practice it is a treatment-planning input: laser and light-based device settings, candidacy decisions, and risk profiles all vary by type.
How it works in an aesthetic clinic
At intake, the clinic records the client's Fitzpatrick type on the chart. Before a laser session, the provider's pre-treatment view shows the type beside prior settings and skin responses: a Type IV client's hair-removal parameters differ from a Type II's, and some devices are contraindicated at higher types entirely. The record follows the client, not any one provider's memory.
Fitzpatrick skin type vs a patch test
| Fitzpatrick skin type | A classification that guides planning before any energy is delivered |
|---|---|
| A patch test | An empirical spot-check of how this individual's skin actually responds |
Why it matters for clinic operators
Typing on the chart is both a safety practice and the basis of honest candidacy conversations. It also makes the treatment record defensible: the settings chosen can be shown to match the documented type.
On the platform: Gracero for laser clinics · Go deeper: Fitzpatrick skin type quiz
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