Fitzpatrick skin type and minimal erythema dose

Fitzpatrick skin type is determined in accordance with the degree of erythema and/or pigmentation which develops in skin after regular doses of sun exposure.Skin is classified into six types by using this typing system.Minimal erythema dose (MED) is the most important parameter for the determination of Fitzpatrick skin type.Theoretically,MED tends to increase with the rise in Fitzpatrick skin type.However,the relation between MED and Fitzpatrick skin type remains unclear because of the differences in natural photoprotection capacity,color of unexposed skin,genetic factors affecting stratum corneum thickness and melanin content,methods and sites used for the determination of MED,etc.This review presents the advances in researches on the relationship between Fitzpatrick skin type and MED. Key words: Fitzpatrick skin type;  Minimal erythema dose;  Heredity