Skin types
Your skin type affects how easily you sunburn. However, sun protection measures should be used for babies, small children, and older adults, regardless of their skin type, because their skin is very sensitive to sunburn.
Skin types and sunburn Type I Red hair, freckles (extremely sensitive)
Sunburn easily, not likely to tan
Type II Fair skin, blue eyes (very sensitive)
Usually sunburn easily, tan a little
Type III Most whites (sensitive)
Sunburn sometimes, tan slowly
Type IV Mediterranean, Hispanic, Asian (moderately sensitive)
Sunburn a little, usually tan well
Type V Middle Eastern, Latino, Indian, light-skinned blacks (minimally sensitive)
Rarely sunburn, tan deeply
Type VI Dark-skinned blacks (not sensitive)
Almost never sunburn
| Author: | Jan Nissl, RN, BS | Last Updated: December 28, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Alexander H. Murray, MD, FRCPC - Dermatology | |
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