10 Jul 2025

Lancer Ethnicity Scale

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Understanding the Lancer Ethnicity Scale (LES)

The Lancer Ethnicity Scale was created in 1998 to address limitations of the Fitzpatrick system. It considers ethnicity and geography rather than just pigmentation, recognizing that skin behavior is influenced by ancestral heritage.

LES I – Extremely Fair Skin

Burns quickly, tends toward sensitivity

Celtic, Nordic, Northern European

LES II – Fair Skin

Does not burn quickly, but wrinkles and scars easily

Central, Eastern, Northern European

LES III – Golden Skin

Olive undertones, can scar easily or become inflamed

European Jews, Native American, Mediterranean

LES IV – Olive/Brown Skin

Can become easily inflamed, tends toward acne

Sephardic Jews, Asian, Central/South American Indian

LES V – Black Skin

Can react to irritation with discoloration changes

African, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Middle Eastern Arabic

LES Calculation

Select Ethnicities

Sum: 0

Divide by 4

0.0

Your LES Type: –

👪 Grandparents’ Ethnicity

Select the ethnicity that best matches each of your four grandparents:

👩 Maternal Side

Maternal Grandmother

Maternal Grandfather

👨 Paternal Side

Paternal Grandmother

Paternal Grandfather

Your LES Result: LES I

Complete all four grandparent ethnicities to see your result

Treatment Implications by LES Type:

LES Types I-III: Likely to have quick response to treatments and possibly deeper treatment effectiveness due to skin characteristics. Fair skin may show visible redness from capillaries beneath.

LES Types IV-V: May be more difficult to treat with higher risk of complications such as hypopigmentation (loss of skin color) and hyperpigmentation. Darker skin often responds to trauma with visible pigmentation changes.

Higher LES Score: Indicates higher risk with treatments, such as adverse reactions to resurfacing treatments. More careful treatment protocols may be required.

⚠️ Important: The Lancer Ethnicity Scale is a tool for understanding skin characteristics based on ethnicity. This information should be used by qualified practitioners for treatment planning. Always consult with a dermatologist or certified practitioner before any cosmetic treatments.