Lives were complicated enough trying to figure out whether your extremely fickle skin is oily, combination, dry or normal, and there comes another set of classifications to make your life more confusing.
We explained the significance and the types of skin under the Fitzpatrick Skin Scale and knowing your skin type not only helps you choose your foundation and serum, but also helps you choose the best skin treatments for your skin. It also helps you to protect your skin against possible risks and take necessary precautions to protect your skin in the long run.
Wanna know what category your skin falls under on the Fitzpatrick Skin Scale? Take this test and find out!
- Select what category you fall under and calculate the total:
- Select what best describes your skin’s reaction when exposed to the sun; select the most appropriate answer and calculate the total:
- Have you ever artificially tanned your skin using tanning beds or creams and lotions? Have you spent long periods of time out in the sun? Select the most appropriate answer and calculate the total.
- Your Fitzpatrick Skin Type is:
Select what category you fall under and calculate the total:

Score |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
What is the colour of your eyes? |
Light blue, light grey or light green |
Blue, grey or green |
Blue |
Dark brown |
Brown-black |
What is the natural colour of your hair |
Red |
Blonde |
Dark blonde or chestnut |
Dark brown |
Black |
What is the colour of the non-exposed areas of your skin |
Reddish |
Very pale |
Pale with a tint of beige |
Light brown |
Dark brown |
What is density of freckles on the non-exposed areas of your skin |
A lot |
Several |
Few |
Incidental |
None |
Select what best describes your skin’s reaction when exposed to the sun; select the most appropriate answer and calculate the total:

Score |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
What happens when your skin is exposed to the sun for too long? |
Painful redness, blistering and peeling |
Blistering followed by peeling |
Scaly skin sometimes followed by peeling |
Rarely burns |
Never burns |
To what degree does your skin turn brown? |
Hardly or not at all |
Light colour tan |
Reasonable tan |
Tans very easily |
Turns dark brown quickly |
Do you turn brown within several hours of sun exposure? |
Never |
Seldom |
Sometimes |
Often |
Always |
How does your face react to the sun? |
Very sensitive |
Sensitive |
Normal |
Very resistant |
Never a problem |
Have you ever artificially tanned your skin using tanning beds or creams and lotions? Have you spent long periods of time out in the sun? Select the most appropriate answer and calculate the total.

Score |
0 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
When was your body last exposed to the sun or artificial sunlamp or tanning cream? |
More than 3 months ago |
2-3 months ago |
1-2 months ago |
Less than a month ago |
Less than two weeks ago |
Did you expose the area to be treated to the sun? |
Never |
Hardly ever |
Sometimes |
Often |
Always |
Your Fitzpatrick Skin Type is:

Add up the totals from all the sections and see what skin type you fall under:
0-7 |
1 |
8-16 |
2 |
17-25 |
3 |
26-30 |
4 |
Greater than 30 |
5-6 |
Now that you know your Fitzpatrick Skin Type, start taking care of it and protect it accordingly!
Image courtesy: Pinterest
Written by Harshitha Prabhakar on 7th Sep 2019