Skin type is often categorized according to the Fitzpatrick skin type scale which ranges from very fair (skin type I) to very dark (skin type VI).  The two main factors that influence skin type and the treatment program devised by your practitioner are:

-genetic disposition
-reaction to sun exposure and tanning habits

Skin type is determined genetically and is one of the many aspects of your overall appearance, which also includes the color of your eyes, hair, etc.  The way your skin responds to sun exposure is another way of correctly assessing your skin type.  Recent tanning, whether by the sun or an artificial tanning booth, even tanning creams, can have a major impact on your skin color evaluation.

By using the information found in this form, you will gain a greater understanding of how different skin types are categorized using the Fitzpatrick scale.   Please feel free to print and complete the following questionnaire.

Genetic Disposition

Total score for genetic disposition: ________

Reaction to Sun Exposure

Total score for reaction to sun exposure: _______

Tanning habits

Total score for tanning habits: _______

Summary

Add up the total scores for each section for your Skin Type Score to give you a better evaluation of your skin type.

_______                                Total score for Genetic Disposition

_______                                Total score for Reaction to Sun Exposure

_______                                Total score for Tanning Habits

_______                                Skin Type Score

Your Fitzpatrick Skin Type:

There are 3 distinct layers to the structure of the skin. These layers can be defined as

1. Epidermis or outer layer which in itself contains 5 sub layers
2. Dermis: composed of 3 types of tissue namely collagen, elastic tissue and reticular fibers
3. Hypodermis or Subcutaneous tissue: a layer of fat and connective tissue that houses larger blood vessels and nerves

Depending on the clinical endpoint you are hoping to achieve the lasers may be working on one or multiple layers of the skin. A basic understanding of these layers will help you to understand the level of improvement that can be achieved.

A chromophore is part (or moiety) of a molecule responsible for its color.

When a molecule absorbs certain wavelengths of visible light and transmits or reflects others, the molecule has a color. A chromophore is a region in a molecule where the energy difference between two different molecular orbitals falls within the range of the visible spectrum. Visible light that hits the chromophore can thus be absorbed by exciting an electron from its ground state into an excited state.
In biological molecules that serve to capture or detect light energy, the chromophore is the moiety that causes a conformational change of the molecule when hit by light.