Fitzpatrick type 3 is described as which?

• A. Very dark skin, rarely burns
• B. Fair to light olive skin, burns mildly, tans slowly
• C. Olive to brown skin, rarely burns, tans easily
• D. Light skin, burns easily

Answer: (B)

Fitzpatrick skin typing describes how the skin reacts to sun exposure and to laser energy. Type III sits in the middle: skin tone ranges from fair to light olive, with only a mild tendency to burn and a slower, more gradual tan with sun exposure. The description that best matches this is a fair to light olive complexion that burns mildly and tans slowly. The other descriptions depict extremes—very dark skin with minimal burning risk, or very light skin that burns easily and tans poorly—neither of which reflect this middle-range response. Understanding this helps in predicting burn risk and pigment changes during laser treatments, guiding safer, effective settings.