Free clinical reference tool
Glogau Scale: Photoaging Classification Tool
The Glogau scale is a four-type photoaging classification. Type I is no wrinkles (early photoaging, 20s to 30s), type II is wrinkles in motion (30s to 40s), type III is wrinkles at rest (50s and older), and type IV is only wrinkles (60s and older). Pick what you see above to get the type, then check it against the table.
Prepared by Prospyr · Reviewed October 3, 2026 · Free, no sign-up, runs in your browser
Example result (adjust the answers)
Glogau type II
Wrinkles in motion: early to moderate photoaging
- Typical age:
- 30s to 40s
- Wrinkles:
- Wrinkles appear with movement; early parallel smile lines
- Skin:
- Early brown spots; keratoses palpable but not yet visible
- Makeup:
- Usually wears some foundation
A classification aid, not a diagnosis. The treating provider assesses the patient and chooses any treatment.
Glogau classification table
| Type | Typical age | Wrinkles | Skin findings | Makeup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type I: No wrinklesEarly photoaging | 20s to 30s | No wrinkles | Mild pigment changes, no keratoses | Little or no makeup |
| Type II: Wrinkles in motionEarly to moderate photoagingYour result | 30s to 40s | Wrinkles appear with movement; early parallel smile lines | Early brown spots; keratoses palpable but not yet visible | Usually wears some foundation |
| Type III: Wrinkles at restAdvanced photoaging | 50s and older | Wrinkles present at rest | Obvious discoloration, visible capillaries (telangiectasias), visible keratoses | Always wears foundation |
| Type IV: Only wrinklesSevere photoaging | 60s and older | Wrinkles throughout; no normal skin | Yellow-gray skin color; prior skin malignancy possible | Makeup cakes and cracks; cannot wear it |
Classification: Glogau RG, Semin Cutan Med Surg 1996. Age bands are the commonly tabulated ranges and are approximate.
Also see the Fitzpatrick skin type quiz for sun reactivity.
Glogau photoaging classification, type by type
Glogau grouped photoaging into four types using the wrinkle pattern first, then pigment, keratoses and makeup habits as supporting signs.
- Type I, no wrinkles. Early photoaging with mild pigment changes and no keratoses.
- Type II, wrinkles in motion. Early to moderate photoaging. Lines show when the face moves, early brown spots appear, and keratoses can be felt but not seen.
- Type III, wrinkles at rest. Advanced photoaging with obvious discoloration, visible capillaries and visible keratoses.
- Type IV, only wrinkles. Severe photoaging with a yellow-gray skin color, and wrinkles throughout.
How to use the Glogau scale selector
Choose the option that matches the wrinkle pattern first, since that defines the type. Then choose the pigment, makeup and age options as cross-checks. If they disagree, the tool says so rather than averaging them: a 45-year-old with years of sun exposure can look like type III, and a 55-year-old with little sun can look like type II.
Worked example. A patient in her late 40s has lines only when she smiles or frowns (type II), a few early brown spots (type II), wears light foundation (type II) and is in her 40s (type II). All four agree, so the result is Glogau type II.
Glogau scale versus Fitzpatrick skin type
Glogau rates visible photoaging. Fitzpatrick rates sun reactivity. A chart can carry both. Use the Fitzpatrick skin type quiz for the second, and keep both in the patient record with aesthetic EMR charting so each visit starts from the same baseline.
Limits of the Glogau scale
The scale is a quick, coarse category. It was not built to measure treatment response, and it does not account for volume loss or skin of color. Different raters can place the same patient in neighboring types, so photograph under consistent lighting and note the type with the date.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Glogau scale?
The Glogau scale is a four-type photoaging classification based mainly on wrinkle pattern. Richard Glogau described it in Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery in 1996. Type I is no wrinkles, II is wrinkles in motion, III is wrinkles at rest and IV is only wrinkles.
What is the Glogau classification by type?
Type I is early photoaging with no wrinkles, type II is early to moderate with wrinkles in motion, type III is advanced with wrinkles at rest, and type IV is severe with wrinkles throughout. The table above also lists the typical age, skin findings and makeup pattern for each.
What is a Glogau wrinkle scale?
"Glogau wrinkle scale" is another name for the same four-type classification. It rates photoaging, so it looks at wrinkles together with pigment changes, keratoses and skin color, not wrinkles alone.
What age is each Glogau type?
Commonly tabulated ranges are the 20s to 30s for type I, 30s to 40s for type II, 50s and older for type III, and 60s and older for type IV. Age is approximate. Sun history and genetics move people between types.
How is the Glogau scale different from the Fitzpatrick scale?
Glogau classifies photoaging, meaning how much visible sun damage the skin shows. Fitzpatrick classifies sun reactivity, meaning how skin burns and tans. They answer different questions, and practices often record both.
Is the Glogau scale a treatment guide?
No. It describes the degree of photoaging. Choosing a treatment is a clinical decision for the treating provider, who looks at the individual patient, not at a scale type alone.
Sources and scope
- Glogau RG. Aesthetic and anatomic analysis of the aging skin. Semin Cutan Med Surg 1996;15(3):134-138
The original classification (DOI 10.1016/s1085-5629(96)80003-4).
- Retinal encapsulated study using the Glogau scale. J Cosmet Dermatol 2026
A published restatement of the four type descriptions (wrinkles in motion, wrinkles at rest, keratoses, makeup caking and cracking, prior skin cancer).
A classification aid, not a diagnosis. Age ranges are the commonly tabulated approximations and are not taken from the 1996 abstract. The treating provider assesses the patient and chooses any treatment.