What skin types can be safely treated with Plasma Pen?

On the Fitzpatrick Skin Type Scale, only skin types I, II and III can safely be treated with Plasma Pen. Anything higher and you are risking hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation.

Some providers claim to be able to treat any skin type. This is generally untrue or at the very least misleading. The fact is that people with darker skins have melanocytes capable of making large amounts of melanin. When dark skin is injured (i.e. through the micro-trauma we create with Plasma Pen), these melanocytes can hyperpigment or hypopigment causing pigment issues.

Skin Types range from the very fair (Type I) to the very dark (Type VI).

Site Content

Additional Information

PART ONE: GENETIC DISPOSITION

(1) What is your eye color?

Light blue, light gray or light green = 0
Blue, gray or green = 1
Hazel or light brown = 2
Dark brown = 3
Brownish black = 4

(2) What is your natural hair colour?

Red or light blonde = 0
Blonde = 1
Dark blonde or light brown = 2
Dark brown = 3
Black = 4

(3) What is your natural skin colour (i.e. before sun exposure)?

Ivory white = 0
Fair or pale = 1
Fair to beige, with golden undertone = 2
Olive or light brown = 3
Dark brown or black = 4

(4) How many freckles do you have on unexposed areas of your skin?

Many = 0
Several = 1
A few = 2
Very few = 3
None = 4

Total score for genetic disposition: _______

PART TWO: SUN EXPOSURE

(1) How does your skin/face respond to the sun?

Always burns, blisters and peels = 0
Often burns, blisters and peels = 1
Burns moderately = 2
Burns rarely, if at all = 3
Never burns = 4

(2) Does your skin tan?

Never – I always burn = 0
Seldom = 1
Sometimes = 2
Often = 3
Always = 4

(3) How deeply do you tan?

Not at all or very little = 0
Lightly = 1
Moderately = 2
Deeply = 3
My skin is naturally dark = 4

(4) How sensitive is your face to the sun?

Very sensitive = 0
Sensitive = 1
Normal = 2
Resistant = 3
Very resistant/Never had a problem = 4

Total score for reaction to sun exposure: _______

PART THREE: TANNING HABITS

(1) When did you last expose your body to sun / tanning cream / tanning injections / sunbeds?

More than 3 months ago = 0
2-3 months ago = 1
1-2 months ago = 2
Less than a month ago = 3
Less than 2 weeks ago = 4

(2) Did you expose the area you wish to be treated by Plasma Pen with to the sun?

No/Never = 0
Hardly = 1
Sometimes = 2
Often = 3
Always = 4

Total score for Tanning Habits: _______

TOTAL SCORE FOR PART ONE, PART TWO AND PART THREE: _________

Now correlate the above score to the following to determine their skin type:

Type I: 0 to 6 points (light, pale white)
Always burns easily, never tans.

Type II: 7 to 12 points (white, fair)
Always burns easily, tans minimally.

Type III: 13 to 18 points (medium white to olive)
Burns moderately, tans gradually.

Type IV: 19 to 24 points (olive, moderate brown)
Burns minimally, tans well.

Type V: 25 to 30 points (brown, dark brown)
Burns rarely, tans profusely.

Type VI: 31+ points (very dark brown to black, black)
Never burns, deep pigmentation.

Remember, only skin types I, II and III can be treated with Plasma Pen.