What type am I?

Hair Removal Methods Laser hair removal
#1

I’m having trouble figuring out if I am a Type III or Type IV. I seem to be in the middle. Here’s some info:

I have Asian and American Indian ancestry, but am only 1/4 Japanese and American Indian is immeasurable. I get very pale when not tanning, even during the summer. I have many freckles on my face, and arms, and scattered over my body (but not to an extreme amount.) I can tan pretty dark, but it does seem to happen rather slowly and take quite a bit of time. Maybe at the end of a summer of constant tanning, I can get medium-dark brown.

But normally I am pretty light complected, I think. I don’t burn a lot, but I do burn sometimes, a little bit. Occasionally, if I’m out in the sun for an extremely long amount of time with no base tan at all, I will burn enough to blister a bit, but it’s never bad. My cheeks consistently get a little red, as do the tops of my shoulders, after prolonged sun exposure.

I do have very dark, course hair.

Any help? What it’s sounding like to me is GentleLase is the best machine out there, and the alternative for Type IV and up are inferior, but the best option you have (LightSheer, and GentleYag?) I 'm just starting to research this, so excuse me if I’m not understanding it all correctly. Anyway, I’m hoping I can use the GentleLase, but it seems like I may be a Type IV.

#2

You’re probably in between. Skin types are approximate. What you will need to do is have test spots done to see how high of settings you can handle on the GentleLASE or another alexandrite. It’s impossible to predict really since you can have underlying pigment due to your ethnic background. If you can handle at least 16 joules on 18mm spot size on GentleLASE, you’re good. If that setting burns you, you need a diode or a Yag.

#3

Thanks for the help, lagirl. I went to a consultation today and took a “skin test” where it said I was a 3.