Skin type

Skin type influences how easily you burn or tan, your risk of sun damage and the safest approach to laser treatments. Assessing your skin type helps guide personalised sun protection advice and the selection of appropriate laser settings.

Skin type and sun response

Skin types are commonly described using the Fitzpatrick scale, which classifies skin according to how it reacts to sun exposure:

Skin Type I
Very fair skin that always burns and never tans. Often associated with red or blonde hair and light eyes.

Skin Type II
Fair skin that burns easily and tans lightly with difficulty.

Skin Type III
Medium skin that may burn initially but gradually tans.

Skin Type IV
Olive or light brown skin that rarely burns and tans easily.

Skin Type V
Brown skin that very rarely burns and tans readily. Pigmentation changes may be more noticeable following inflammation or injury.

Skin Type VI
Dark brown or black skin that never burns. While highly protected against sunburn, it can still develop sun damage, pigmentation disorders and skin cancer.

Fairer skin types are more prone to sunburn and long term sun damage, including actinic keratoses and skin cancer. Darker skin types are less likely to burn but can still experience UV related damage and pigmentation problems.

Skin type and sun protection

All skin types benefit from careful sun protection, but the level of vigilance may differ:

  • Fair skin may need higher SPF, more frequent application and strict avoidance of midday sun
  • Darker skin should still use sunscreen, particularly to reduce uneven pigmentation and photoageing
  • Previous sun damage or history of skin cancer increases the need for year round protection

Skin type and laser choices

Skin type also affects how lasers interact with the skin. Lasers target pigment or blood vessels, so higher levels of background pigment require careful choice of wavelength and settings.

  • Laser hair removal is most straightforward for dark hair on lighter skin, but can be adapted for darker skin with suitable technology
  • Pulsed dye laser for red marks is generally safe across a range of skin types with appropriate parameters
  • Picosure Pro for pigmentation requires careful assessment in darker skin to minimise risk of pigment change

A detailed consultation is used to assess your skin type, pattern of sun damage and treatment goals before recommending any laser procedure.

Sun damage across different skin types

Signs of sun damage can appear differently depending on skin type:

  • Fair skin may show fine lines, freckling, solar lentigos and a higher rate of skin cancer
  • Darker skin may develop uneven pigmentation, melasma, or darker patches where inflammation has occurred

Recognising these patterns helps tailor both preventive strategies and treatment options.

If you would like a personalised assessment of your skin type, sun damage and suitability for laser treatments, please contact us via the contact page.