Classification of the different types of skin based on their sensitivity to the sun's rays, the colour of the skin and the colour of the eyes.
Fitzpatrick talks of phototype I, II, III, IV, V and VI:
- Phototype I: milky skin (red-head), always burns, never tans.
- Phototype II: light skin, always burns, can achieve a slight tan, often presence of a number of freckles.
- Phototype III: light to dark skin, sometimes burns, always tans (average tan), a few freckles in adults.
- Phototype IV: dark skin, never burns, always tans (dark tan), no freckles.
- Phototype V: brown skin, never burns, always tans (very dark tan), no freckles.
- Phototype VI: black skin, never burns, no freckles.