This paper describes a new algorithm for pixel-based skin color detection to differentiate human form in color images by the ratio of R to H. In order to detect skin color efficiently, we examine the distribution of the R, G and B color elements combining to constitute the skin color in various color images. It shows that R is located in a narrower area than G and B on the RGB color space. And skin color is more related to R than G and B. Meanwhile, when the color image is transformed to the HSI color space, the S is variously changed in accordance with skin colors. The I is changed in accordance with the quantity and angle of light. But the H is less influenced by other conditions except for color. On the basis of the aforementioned study, we propose that the threshold for skin color detection is decided by the ratio of R to H. The proposed method narrows down the range of threshold, detects more skin color and reduces mis-detection of skin color in comparison to detection by R or H. In experimentation. it shows that the proposed algorithm overcomes changes of brightness and color to detect skin color in color images.