The Colorimetric Scale for Skin of Color (CSSC) can Provide a Standardized Classification System for Patients with Diverse Skin Tones

The colorimetric scale for skin of color (CSSC) is an inexpensive, easy to use, rapidly performed assessment for the classification of skin color type of individuals with dark skin. The scale only includes colors, is not based on sun-reactive skin types, and requires minimal training of the person doing the evaluation. The colors in the CSSC range from very light beige to very dark brown; each color corresponds to a numerical skin color type: very light beige (skin color type 1), light brown (skin color type 2), medium brown (skin color type 3), dark brown (skin color type 4), and very dark brown (skin color type 5). Importantly, the CSSC provides a non-ethnic and non-racial categorization of people with dark skin which potentially not only diminishes racial disparities in dermatology but also promotes healthcare equity. The expected reliability and reproducibility of the scale remain to be validated by prospective studies. In addition, for individuals with dark skin, it is anticipated that the scale shall not only be an integral component in forensic pathology but also useful for improving diagnosis of dermatologic conditions, determining appropriate cosmetic procedures and devices, assessing the risk of skin cancer development, establishing skin type-directed photoprotection, and enhancing research in dermatology. The design of the CSSC enables the potential creation of an artificial intelligence-based system to establish more objective parameters for the classification of individuals with dark skin. In summary, the CSSC is an ideal tool for classifying individuals with dark skin.