Optimisation of skin phototype classification |
| |
| Authors: | Sophie S. Lim Tasneem F. Mohammad Indermeet Kohli Iltefat Hamzavi Michelle Rodrigues |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. Alfred Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia;2. The Henry W Lim, MD, Division of Photobiology and Photomedicine, Department of Dermatology, Henry Ford Health, Detroit, Michigan, USA;3. Department of Dermatology, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia |
| |
| Abstract: | Understanding individuals' skin pigmentation and photosensitivity is important in judging risk of skin cancer and response to certain treatment modalities. However, individuals with darkly pigmented skin are poorly represented in the widely used Fitzpatrick skin phototype (FST) system. Moreover, the FST system is prone to misuse, as it relies on subjective patient and clinician assessment of skin type, and does not clearly differentiate pigmentation from photosensitivity. By evaluating the key literature surrounding the FST system, its criticisms and proposed alternatives, this review serves to understand how skin phototype classification can be optimised. |
| |
| Keywords: | ethnic skin Fitzpatrick skin type general dermatology medical dermatology photobiology photodermatology pigmentary disorders skin of colour skin phototype |
|
|
