Skin types

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