HOW SUN-SENSITIVE IS MY SKIN?
Sun protection requirements are just as individual as skin types, but one thing is certain: everyone should protect their skin from the sun.
Determining your skin type is the first step toward working out your skin’s sensitivity to the sun. Your skin, hair and eye colour are just as important as the question of whether your skin tans well, not well at all, or is already tanned. Another factor to take into account is where you will be enjoying the sunshine and at what time of the day and year.
CHILDREN’S SKIN 
Children’s skin is not as used to the sun as adult skin and is thus particularly sun-sensitive. Like adults, children also have different skin tones, but their skin should always be regarded as sensitive and should always be protected by an SPF of at least 30. See below for more important tips on safely protecting children’s skin from the sun’s rays.
Skin type I
Burns within approx. 10 minutes if unprotected
Features:
- Very pale, sensitive skin
- Freckles
- Blue, green or light grey eyes
- Reddish or light blonde hair
- Does not tan
- Very often burns in the sun
Skin’s own sun protection capacity: Up to 10 minutes
Recommendation: Sun protection with SPF 50 and 50+
Skin type II
Burns within approx. 20 minutes if unprotected
Features:
- Pale skin
- Frequently with freckles
- Blue, grey or green eyes
- Blonde, light brown or dark brown hair
- Tans very little, very slowly
- Often burns in the sun
Skin’s own sun protection capacity: 5 – 10 minutes
Recommendation: Sun protection with SPF 30, 50 and 50+
Skin type III
Burns within approx. 25 minutes if unprotected
Features:
- Light brown skin
- Very few freckles
- Brown, blue, green or grey eyes
- Dark blonde, light brown or dark brown hair
- Tans slowly
- Burns occasionally
Skin’s own sun protection capacity: 15 – 25 minutes
Recommendation: Sun protection with SPF 20 and 30
Skin type IV
Burns within approx. 30 minutes if unprotected
Features:
- Light brown or olive skin (even without a tan)
- Not very sensitive, no freckles
- Brown eyes
- Brown or black hair
- Tans rapidly and deeply
- Seldom burns
Skin’s own sun protection capacity: 20 – 30 minutes
Recommendation: Sun protection with SPF 15, 20 and 30
Skin type V
Burns within approx. 60 minutes if unprotected
Features:
- Dark to dark brown skin (even without a tan)
- Hardly sensitive at all, no freckles
- Brown eyes
- Black hair
- Tans quickly to a dark brown colour
- Burns rarely or never
Skin’s own sun protection capacity: 45 – 60 minutes
Recommendation: Sun protection with SPF 15, 20 and 30
HOW DO YOU PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN’S SENSITIVE SKIN?
Children’s skin needs particularly good protection as
- Repeated sunburn in the first 20 years of life significantly increases the risk of skin cancer.
- Children’s skin and eyes have not yet fully developed their own protective mechanisms.
Recommendation: Use special children’s sun protection products with an SPF of at least 30
TIPS FOR PROTECTING KIDS
- Until they are a year old, protect children from strong sunshine
- Choose the shade where possible
- Protect their faces with a hat or peaked cap
- Shade their eyes with sunglasses (glasses with 100% UV protection up to 400 nanometres)
- Keep their bodies covered with clothing; apply high SPF sunscreen to exposed areas
- Carefully apply sunscreen to sensitive areas such as lips, ears, nose and the tops of the feet
- Use water-resistant sun protection products
- Re-apply sun protection products regularly
DON’T FORGET
- Children both young and old need to drink plenty of fluids – even in the shade
- Suitable choices are water, unsweetened tea and fruit juices

Skin type 1

Skin type 2

Skin type 3

Skin type 4

Skin type 5