Fitzpatrick scale

Abstract: Pigmentation changes after superficial burn injuries are often difficult to predict. We analyzed a sample of patients with burn injuries, looking for clinical indicators of predictable color changes in burn wounds. A sample of 50 children, predominantly those with pigmented skins, who had sustained superficial partial-thickness, (second degree) thermal, scald, or friction burns, were retrospectively grouped. Chemical and electric burns, and those needing skin grafts were excluded. Forty-one patients returned for interview and examination, an average of 63 months after injury (range, 3 to 276 months). All patients had their skin color graded in terms of the Fitzpatrick scale--a numeric scale that combines innate skin color plus reported history of skin response to sun exposure, to assign a value from 1 to 6, where white skin that reddens but does not tan on sun exposure is 1 and heavily pigmented black skin is 6. The burn site, as well as unburned areas of control skin, were tested for reflectance and luminance with use of a well-validated spectrophotometric technique. As an addendum, clinical photographs of a further 50 patients were similarly analyzed. During the first 3 years after injury, burn site color changes were variable. Subsequently, there was cumulative hyperpigmentation at the burn site, provided that the melanocyte-bearing deep dermis had not been destroyed. Hyperpigmentation correlated significantly with skin color, as quantified by the Fitzpatrick scale (p < 0.01), and with time after injury (p < 0.05).

Abstract: Background Facial and dental aesthetics are becoming of great concern for patients, especially for the younger generation. Tooth color matching and selection is considered a vital element in order to create an attractive beautiful smile. The importance of tooth color matching is to adjust tooth colors to obtain a good match with adjacent teeth and the skin. This is considered a challenge especially if adjacent teeth were lost or records of patients' teeth color were not available. Objective The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between skin complexion and tooth value in a Jordanian population. Methods A cross-sectional study of 520 individuals who were randomly selected and belonging to different age groups, ranging from 15-65 years, with equal sex distribution. These patients visited the dental clinics at different Jordanian military hospitals. The study was carried out over a period of one year from 2015 to 2016. The randomly selected sample was examined by one researcher. Shade of the middle third of the labial surface of central incisor was determined visually using VITA tooth guide, 3D-MASTER shade guide. Tooth shades were divided into two categories according to their value. The skin complexion was identified using Fitzpatrick skin type test, and was categorized into two categories (fair and dark). Data were statistically analyzed using Epi Info version 6. Results A statistically significant tooth shade value difference was discovered among subjects of different skin color (p<0.0001). Individuals with dark skin tend to have lighter teeth, while individuals with light skin tend to have darker teeth. Out of the 304 participants that were with dark complexion 274 (90%) have light teeth, and only 30 (10%) were with dark teeth. Out of the 216 participants with light complexion 172 (80%) have dark teeth and only 44 (20%) have light teeth. Conclusion Within the limitation of this study, there was an inverse relation between skin complexion and tooth value among a Jordanian population. Thus, considering the skin complexion when choosing tooth shades is helpful in achieving a pleasing good-looking smile, yet further investigations in this field must be carried out.

Abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate the need for detailed classification of skin colors through the quantification of skin color and light absorbance differences. Skin color is one of the most important factors in dermatological laser treatments. Dermatological laser treatments are currently performed based on the experience and judgment of the doctor with the Fitzpatrick scale. However, the Fitzpatrick scale and the doctor’s experience were not quantified assessment methods for skin color classification and laser parameters selection. Improper selection of laser irradiating parameters can lead to undesirable tissue effects and treatment outcomes. We analyzed the correlations between absorbance and quantified colors using skin phantoms to identify that using the Fitzpatrick scale in dermatological treatments have limitations. Absorbance differences for different skin colors are measured at 532 nm with a custom-built system for radiant power measurements using skin phantoms fabricated with nine different colors. Some correlations between the color and absorbance agree with the Fitzpatrick scale. Generally, absorbance for the bright colored phantoms is lower than that for the darker colored phantoms. However, some phantoms fabricated with bright colors exceptionally have higher absorbance than those with darker colors. This means that for conventional standards, the Fitzpatrick scale may not always be accurate at 532-nm lights. Through these experiments, we demonstrate the need for a reliable classification standard for skin colors based on quantification of the skin colors and absorbance differences for each skin color as an alternative to the Fitzpatrick scale, which has limitations at certain wavelengths.