With inclusivity being one of the most important trends in medical aesthetics, it’s essential that clinics market their services to a broad range of skin types. Knowing how different skin types react to certain treatment technologies, and which aesthetic treatments to offer based on these qualities, will help you to position your practice as the go-to destination for clients with complexions of all colors. Read on to learn about Fitzpatrick skin types I-VI and how to choose treatments that will give your clients of all skin types the best results.
What Are Fitzpatrick Skin Types?
The Fitzpatrick skin phototype classification system is a way of determining skin type based on the levels of melanin pigment in the skin. Melanin levels correlate directly to how skin reacts to sun exposure and UV radiation, as well as other forms of irritation. For example, paler skin burns easily and tans poorly, while darker skin is less prone to sunburn but more likely to develop post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) marks after injury. Here are the Fitzpatrick skin types I-VI:
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Skin Type
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Typical Features
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Tanning Ability
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I
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Pale white skin; red or blond hair; blue/green eyes; freckles
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Always burns, never tans
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II
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Fair skin; red or blond hair; blue, hazel, or green eyes
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Burns easily, tans with difficulty
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III
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Darker white; any eye or hair color
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Sometimes mild burn, gradually tans
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IV
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Light brown skin
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Burns only slightly, tans easily
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V
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Brown skin
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Rarely burns, easily tans darkly
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VI
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Dark brown or black skin
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Never burns, always tans darkly very easily
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*Source: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/multimedia/table/fitzpatrick-skin-type-classification
How to Market Aesthetic Treatments for Different Skin Types
Up until recently, medical aesthetic technology wasn’t as safe for Fitzpatrick skin types IV-VI, which includes many people of color. This has changed, but while the latest advances in technology have made the most sought-after treatments safer for a wider range of skin types, this demographic still remains largely underserved. Part of the lag is due to the fact that med spas and aesthetic clinics are still playing catchup in terms of marketing their services directly to this audience. Your clinic can capture this untapped client base by using your marketing efforts to educate and inform, showing that the most popular treatments are now safe for people with all shades of skin.
Venus Concept Technologies Safe for All Shades of Skin
All Venus Concept industry-leading devices are designed to be safe for a wide range of skin types. Moreover, some of our technologies have made it possible for people with darker skin to get treatments they wouldn’t have been able to get before without incurring the risk of side effects like PIH. Offering these cutting-edge advances at your clinic is the best way to make sure you are offering the safest treatments for your clients, while delivering the best results.
(MP)2
An integral part of our Venus Legacy™, Venus Versa™, Venus Viva™ MD, and Venus Bliss™ machines, our proprietary (MP)2 applicator combines Multi-Polar Radio Frequency (RF) and Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields (PEMF) with advanced VariPulse™ technology. Proven to be safe for all shades of skin, RF energy is color-blind and effective at reducing cellulite, tightening skin, and reducing circumference for a smoother, more contoured appearance. The VariPulse™ algorithm safely and quickly builds heat, maintaining a therapeutic temperature throughout the treatment for a safe and comfortable patient experience.
Diode Laser Fat Reduction
Backed by clinically validated effectiveness in fat reduction, cellulite reduction, skin tightening, and circumference reduction, the Diode Laser technology that powers Venus Bliss™ treatments is a comprehensive non-invasive lipolysis solution that delivers powerful results. With its 1064 nm diode laser applicators, Venus Bliss™ gives you the ability to control the wavelength intensity of the treatment, making it safer for a broader spectrum of skin types than other fat reduction therapies on the market. With the increasing demand for non-invasive fat reduction treatments, Venus Bliss™ helps to grow your practice by offering patients the most innovative technology that is clinically proven to meet their aesthetic needs.
IPL & Diode Laser Hair Removal
Diode laser and Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) are both safe and effective technologies for hair removal, specifically IPL hair removal for Fitzpatrick skin types I-IV and diode laser hair removal for all skin types. Venus Versa™, Venus Velocity™, and Venus Epileve™ devices balance optimal melanin absorption with a real-time cooling system for combined comfort and efficacy. With versatile modes for adjusting the treatment for individual patient needs, Venus Concept hair removal treatments are powerful enough to deliver visible results while still being safe and comfortable for all skin types.
Skin Resurfacing
One of the most sought-after aesthetic treatments today, skin resurfacing helps reduce the appearance of acne scars and other scars, striae, rosacea, dyschromia, deep wrinkles, enlarged pores, and uneven skin texture and pigmentation for all skin types. Our Venus Viva™ MD skin resurfacing device gives the provider complete control of ablation, coagulation, and resurfacing and is augmented with SmartScan™ technology for patient-customized RF energy. Venus Viva™ MD treatments have a lower incidence of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, or PIH, which can be a cause for concern among side effects of skin resurfacing for people with Fitzpatrick Skin Types IV-VI, making it a safe solution for patients of all skin types.
Delivering the safest and most effective aesthetic treatments to all of your clients is as easy as giving us a call! Speak to one of our experts today about bringing Venus Concept technology to your clinic—and most importantly, to your patients.
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