How sun-sensitive is my skin?

From white as alabaster to black as ebony: six different skin types, six different protection factors. But everyone needs sunscreen to sunbathe!

You can find out what type of skin you have and your personal sun sensitivity here. What counts is not just hair and eye colour; even more important is the question of whether or not the skin actually tans.

NB: This information on the six different skin types applies to adults only. Children’s skin and children’s eyes are more sensitive and require special protection. Please see the section on children’s skin for details.

Skin type 1

Protection required:
• Choose shade over sun, especially when the sun is at its highest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Wear a hat with a neck flap and appropriate clothing.
• Wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection up to 400 nm.
• Use sunscreen with an SPF >30.
• Protect the nose, ears, lips and neck especially well

Skin type 2

Features:
• pale complexion
• frequently with freckles
• sensitive skin
• pale eyes
• light-coloured hair
• slow to tan
• burns frequently
• skin’s own protection capacity: 10–20 mins.

Protection required:
• Choose shade over sun, especially when the sun is at its highest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Wear a hat with a neck flap and appropriate clothing.
• Wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection up to 400 nm.
• Use sunscreen with an SPF >25.
• Protect the nose, ears, lips and neck especially well

Skin type 3

Features:
• medium-pale complexion
• pale or dark eyes
• brown hair
• slow and superficial tanning
• burns occasionally
• skin’s own protection capacity: 20–30 mins.

Protection required:
• Stay in the shade when the sun is at its highest from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Wear a hat and sunglasses.
• Use sunscreen with an SPF >15.
• Protect the nose, ears, lips and neck especially well

Skin type 4

Features:
• brownish complexion, not especially sensitive skin
• dark eyes
• dark brown or black hair
• rapid and deep tanning
• seldom burns
• skin’s own protection capacity: 30–45 mins.

Protection required:
• Wear a hat and sunglasses.
• Use sunscreen with an SPF >15.
• Protect the lips and neck well when at the seaside and in the mountains

Skin type 5

Features:
• dark complexion, not especially sensitive skin
• dark eyes
• black hair
• seldom burns
• skin’s own protection capacity: 45–60 mins.

Protection required:
• Wear a hat and sunglasses.
• Use sunscreen with an SPF >15.
• Protect the lips and neck well when at the seaside and in the mountains

Skin type 6

Features:
• black complexion, not especially sensitive skin
• black eyes
• black hair
• very seldom burns
• skin’s own protection capacity: 60–90 mins.

Protection required:
• Wear a hat and sunglasses when at the seaside or in the mountains.
• Protect the lips well.
• Use sunscreen with SPF 15. Remember that exposure to the sun after a long period of very little sunshine can cause even dark skin to burn

Children’s skin

Children must be especially well protected. Repeated sunburn in the first 20 years of life increases the risk of skin cancer significantly.

Unlike in adults, children’s skin and eyes have not yet fully developed their own protective mechanisms. It is therefore vital that children’s skin and eyes be especially well protected:
• Infants of less than a year old should not be exposed to direct sun at all.
• The best way of protecting their faces is with a wide-brimmed sunhat.
• Sunblock with purely physical filters is available for those parts of the baby’s body that are not covered by clothes.
• To minimize the risk of intolerance, it is a good idea to use special sunscreens for children older than 12 months as well. These should have an SPF of at least 25, be waterproof and free of perfumes, alcohol and preservatives. Best of all are those products that are composed entirely of physical filters.

As such products tend to be rather viscous, however, they are not always easy to apply. This explains why most manufacturers combine their children’s products with various types of UV filter. It is important to remember that all sunblocks and sunscreens must be reapplied after bathing, even if they are described as “waterproof”.
• In principle, children should stay in the shade as much as possible – it may be necessary to erect a parasol or awning over the play area or paddling pool – and should always wear a hat or cap, a T-shirt and good sunglasses with 100% UV protection up to 400 nm.
• Sensitive areas such as the lips, ears, nose and the back of the foot require special protection. Closed shoes therefore provide better protection than sandals.
• Children of all ages need a high intake of fluids, even if they are in the shade. Water, unsweetened tea and fruit juice are the best sources.

Source: “Krebsliga Schweiz” (Swiss Cancer League)