Skin Types
Skin Types
Your skin type affects how easily you sunburn. But 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.
| 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 |
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine |
| Last Revised | September 1, 2011 |
