Cited by 4,339Skin Protection and Agingmelanin and skin pigmentationPsoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis

The validity and practicality of sun-reactive skin types I through VI

Fitzpatrick, Thomas B.·1988·Archives of Dermatology

Abstract

The concept of sun-reactive "skin typing" was created in 19751for a specific need: to be able to classify personswith white skinin order to select the correct initial doses of ultraviolet A (UVA) (in joules per cubic centimeter) in the application of the then newly developed technique for the treatment of psoriasis—oral methoxsalen photochemotherapy (PUVA).2The need arose as a result of experience with several patients who were a "dark" phenotype (brown or even black hair, and some with brown eyes) but, to our surprise, developed severe phototoxic reactions following oral ingestion of 0.6 mg/kg of methoxsalen and then, two hours later, were exposed to 4 to 6 J/cm2. These initial doses were obviously too high, and it was then understood that the estimation of the white-skinned person's tolerance level to oral PUVA could not be based solely on the phenotype (hair and eye color).

Integrity signals

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Crossref · 10.1001/archderm.1988.01670060015008

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  • For human-centric computer vision models, the visual presentation of age, gender, and Fitzpatrick skin type may be relevant.

    “For human-centric computer vision models, the visual presentation of age, gender, and Fitzpatrick skin type [15] may be relevant.”

    From Model Cards for Model Reporting (2019) · cites this paper as [15]

  • The sun sensitivity variable measures sun sensitivity by assessing the skin's tendency to burn, similar to the Fitzpatrick scale, but also captures the severity of the burn.

    “Similar to the Fitzpatrick scale,14 this variable measures sun sensitivity by assessing the skin’s tendency to burn, but the question also captures the severity of the burn.”
  • The FSP scale is commonly used to describe skin pigmentation according to the skin tanning response to UVR.

    “The FSP scale is commonly used to describe skin pigmentation according to the skin tanning response to UVR [105,106,107].”

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Authors
Fitzpatrick, T. B.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Fitzpatrick, Thomas B.
Venue
Archives of Dermatology
Published
1988-06-01
Volume
124
Issue
6
Pages
869
ISSN
0003-987X (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4250928742
Cited by
4,339
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 206 · 2025: 206 · 2024: 250 · 2023: 255 · 2022: 289 · 2021: 276 · 2020: 228 · 2019: 219 · 2018: 212 · 2017: 187 · 2016: 214 · 2015: 162 · 2014: 126 · 2013: 136 · 2012: 132
FWCI
10.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Archives of Dermatology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Skin Protection and Aging
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Cell Biology › melanin and skin pigmentation
  • Life Sciences › Immunology and Microbiology › Immunology › Psoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis
Keywords
phototoxicity, PUVA, 8-methoxypsoralen, psoriasis treatment
MeSH terms
Dose-Response Relationship, Radiation, Erythema, Humans, Methods, Psoriasis, PUVA Therapy, Skin, Skin Pigmentation, Sunburn, Sunlight, Ultraviolet Rays

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