You will often hear of your skin type when speaking to a physician or laser specialist about resurfacing or cosmetic procedure options.  Even with things like laser hair removal your skin type play a major role in how your skin is treated for specific conditions.

The rule of thumb is that the darker your complexion the more conservative your treatment will be.  If a physician is overly aggressive with a laser treatment it could easily result in hypo pigmentation where the skin color is removed and you are left with white scars.  These scars are pretty permanent which is another reason why it is so critical that you are laser procedures are performed by highly skilled physicians or laser specialists.  They need to not only understand how the laser operates but how your skin will respond to the particular laser treatment.

Knowing how the skin will respond is not something that just comes naturally after doing enough procedures.  It is something that Dermatologists spend a lot of time learning about which is why they are the most preferred laser specialists.  In most cases, a dermatologist can provide you with the safest and best results when it comes to any non invasive or non surgical cosmetic treatment like lasers, fillers, and botox.

Skin Type Overview

The different skin types are measured something called a Fitzpatrick Classification Scale which was developed by Dermatologists based on a person’s complexion and tolerance to sunlight.  It goes from a Fitzpatrick I-VI with VI being the darkest.

Fitzpatrick Skin Type Classification Scale

  • Type I – Very white or freckled skin, always burns with sun exposure (very fair; often in people with red or blond hair and blue eyes)
  • Type II – White skin, usually burns with sun exposure (fair; often in people with red or blond hair and blue, green, or hazel eyes)
  • Type III – White or olive skin tone, sometime burns with sun exposure (fair; seen in people with any hair or eye color)
  • Type IV – Brown skin, rarely burns with sun exposure (common in people of Mediterranean descent)
  • Type V – Dark brown skin, very rarely burns with sun exposure (common in people of Middle-Eastern descent)
  • Type VI – Black skin, never burns with sun exposure

This scale is what your laser specialist should use before ever considering certain treatments.  It is especially needed when selecting the right settings for the laser hair removal lasers, erbium lasers, Fraxel Lasers, Co2 lasers, and fractional co2 lasers.  Remember that the outcome you want is more dependent upon the Laser Specialist than the laser the specialist is using.  There is no subsitute for a skilled laser specialist and you should not accept one.