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The Phototypes
of Asian Skin
Chung, Jin Ho1
and Youn, Jai Il1
Seoul National Universtiy College of Medicine1
Abstract-
Skin phototyping is regarded as a simple screening method to estimate
the relative risk for the development of acute and perhaps the chronic
changes related to UVR exposure. The concept of skin typing was proposed
by Fitzpatrick in 1975 on the basis of reported susceptibilities to
burning and tanning to UV. This concept originally was, however, based
on skin responses in the white skin of Caucasians. At first, brown skin
was grouped simply as skin type V in addition to skin types I through
IV of white skin. Later, brown skin was divided into 3 groups; type
IV for light brown, type V for brown, and type VI for dark brown skin.
However, several investigators have suggested that skin phototyping
does not reliably predict the UV response of individuals with pigmented
skin. The basic concept of Fitzpatrick skin phototyping is that there
is a reciprocal relationship between the tendency to burn and the tendency
to tan. In other words, a person who always burns should never tan (Type
I), and one who always tans should never burn (Type IV). It appears
that burning and tanning tendency are not inversely correlated in Asian
skin. In Asian skin, the tendency to tan and constitutional skin pigmentation
correlates more closely with MED, and could be used to predict skin
reactions to UVR.
Keywords: phototype,
Asian
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