Treatment

Skin phototype

The purpose of skin phototypes is to determine the following:

  • the skin color
  • how the skin reacts in the sun (e.g. prone to sunburn, appearance of freckles)
  • the hair color

There are 7 phototypes: the higher the phototype, the more resistant to the sun and darker the skin is.

The physician will choose the laser hair removal machine with the suitable wavelength and fluence (energy) according to the patient’s phototype. In general, the Alexandrite machine is used for fair skin, with quite a high energy level, and the Nd Yag machine, with a low energy level, to prevent burning on dark skin, which has a particularly high concentration of melanin.

The Fitzpatrick phototype classification is shown below:

Phototype Skin color Sun sensitivity Tanning ability Melanin content Hair color Recommended permanent hair removal method
Phototype Skin color Sun sensitivity Tanning ability Melanin content Hair color Recommended permanent hair removal method
I Very white skin High No ability No melanin black Laser hair removal (Alexandrite laser)
brown Laser hair removal (Alexandrite laser)
red Electrical hair removal (electrolysis)
blond Electrical hair removal (electrolysis)
gray/white Electrical hair removal (electrolysis)
II White skin High Low Very low melanin black Laser hair removal (Alexandrite laser)
brown Laser hair removal (Alexandrite laser)
red Electrical hair removal (electrolysis)
blond Electrical hair removal (electrolysis)
gray/white Electrical hair removal (electrolysis)
III Medium skin (brown hair and light colored eyes) Moderate Good Low melanin black Laser hair removal (Alexandrite laser)
brown Laser hair removal (Alexandrite laser)
red Electrical hair removal (electrolysis)
blond Electrical hair removal (electrolysis)
gray/white Electrical hair removal (electrolysis)
IV European medium skin (dark hair, dark eyes, olive skin) Very low Very good Moderate melanin black Laser hair removal (Alexandrite or Nd:Yag laser)
brown Laser hair removal (Alexandrite or Nd:Yag laser)
red Electrical hair removal (electrolysis)
blond Electrical hair removal (electrolysis)
gray/white Electrical hair removal (electrolysis)
V Brown skin (brown Asian, Mediterranean, mixed-race skin) Very low Excellent Quite high melanin black / brown Laser hair removal (Alexandrite or Nd:Yag laser)
VI Black skin Not sensitive Excellent High amount of melanin black / brown Laser hair removal (Nd:Yag laser)
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