Skin Types

Ethnic Skin Types

The factor that varies in all ethnic skin types is the degree of melanin (the skin’s pigment) production.  Although all ethnic skin types have the same number of melanocyte cells, black skins have melanocytes capable of making large amounts of melanin.

Melanocytes are melaninproducing cells located in the bottom layer of the epidermis.  Melanin is the pigment primarily responsible for skin colour.

The factor that varies in all ethnic skin types is the degree of melanin (the skin’s pigment) production.  Although all ethnic skin types have the same number of melanocyte cells, black skins have melanocytes capable of making large amounts of melanin.

Melanocytes are melanin-producing cells located in the bottom layer of the epidermis.  Melanin is the pigment primarily responsible for skin colour.

White Skin


British, Scandinavian, East/West Europe, North American, South Australian, Canadian, New Zealand origin

  • The colour of white skin is generally a pale pink.  There are relatively small amounts of melanin.  There are those skins which are pale and translucent, often accompanied by freckles and red, blonde or mousy hair.
  • Pale skin is at risk of sunburn, ageing and formation of skin cancer because of the reduced protection it has from lack of melanin in the skin.  Pale skins may be unable to develop a tan and may be prone to dehydration and irritation.
    White skins tan more easily and are far less sensitive and whilst being pale in the winter, may establish a golden tan without burni
  • Some skins appear pinkish while others have a sallow tone.  
  • White skins age faster than black skins and therefore it is important to start protecting the skin from UV radiation as early as possible

Oriental/Light Asian,

Chinese, Japanese or Middle East origin

  • This skin is a creamy colour with a tendency to yellow and olive tones.  There is more melanin present in this skin type.
  • Oriental skin rarely shows blemishes and defies normal signs of ageing.
  • Scars are more likely to occur and hyper-pigment, causing unevenness, troughs, pits and hollows on the skin’s surface
Dark Asian Skin
Pakistan, Indian, Sri Lanka or Malaysian origin. 
  • This is a very dark skin colour which is deeply pigmented with melanin. 
  • Dark Asian skin is smooth and supple with minimal signs of ageing.   
  • Sweat glands are larger and more numerous, which gives a sheen to the skin that is often mistaken for oiliness.
  • As this skin type is deeply pigmented it does not reveal blood capillaries.
Mediterranean Skin

Italian, Spanish, Greek, Portuguese, Yugoslavian, South American or Central American origin.

  • This skin type presents as sallow with some reddish pigment.
  • There is a good degree of melanin present which obscures the colour of the blood vessels. 
  • This skin type tends to have a generous coating of sebum and is therefore oily.
  • Tans easily and deeply without burning.

Afro-Caribbean/Black Skin

West Indian or African origin.  
  •       Black skins have more sebum as sebaceous glands are larger, more numerous and closer to the skin’s surface with open pores.  
  •     This skin type is thick and tough which desquamates easily and forms keloid scars when damaged (thick, lumpy scars and often beyond the borders of the wound).
The Fitzpatrick scale:

The Fitzpatrick scale (also Fitzpatrick skin typing test; or Fitzpatrick photo typing scale) is a numerical classification schema for human skin colour. It was developed in 1975 by Thomas B. Fitzpatrick as a way to estimate the response of different types of skin to ultraviolet (UV) light.

This scale is used by dermatologists and aesthetic medicine practitioners to determine which treatments are best suited for different skin types.

Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4 Type 5 Type 6
Highly sensitive

•Always burns

•Never tans

Example; a person with red hair and freckles. Think fragile like an egg, with super thin skin, almost translucent – bleeds immediately on needle contact

Very sun sensitive

•Burns easily

•Tans minimally

Example; a person who is fair skinned. Fair haired Caucasians

Think grape, thin but not as much as an egg, tiny pores, ivory/fair skin tone.  Can bleed easily, Fitzpatrick 1-2

Sun sensitive skin

•Sometimes burns

•Slowly tans to a light brown

Example; a darker Caucasian

Burns minimally

•Always tans well

•Tans to moderate brown – think

Think apple, small pores, non-translucent, doesn’t bleed easily – this is the preferred skin type Fitzpatrick 2-6

Sun reactions rarely occur

•Minimal freckles

•Almost never burns

•Always tans

Has dark brown or black skin

•Tans easily

•Almost never burns

•This skin type is more prone to keloid scarring

Think orange, large pores, oily skin, can bleed or not at all, Fitzpatrick 2-6