Is defined as the amount of time you can expose your skin to the sun in a day without getting sunburnt.
Skin type determination
Type I – Celtic type
Self-protection time: < 10 min
– very fair skin color
– reddish or light blond hair
– blue, green or light gray eyes
– freckles
– does not tan, but gets freckles
– very often sunburnt
Recommended sun protection factor: UV index of 3-4 is 15 and UV index of 9+ is 25-35.
Type II – Nordic type
Self-protection time: 10 – 20 min
– fair skin color
– blond or light brown hair
– blue, grey or green eyes
– often freckles
– slow, minimal tanning
– frequently sunburnt
Recommended sun protection factor: UV index of 3-4 is 10-15 and UV index of 9+ is 20-25.
Type III – mixed type
Self-protection time: 20 – 30 min
– Medium skin color
– dark brown or light brown, sometimes blond
– or black hair
– brown (blue, green or gray) eyes
– hardly any freckles
– slow but progressive tanning to light brown
– sometimes sunburned
Recommended sun protection factor: UV index of 3-4 is 10-15 and UV index of 9+ is 15-20.
Type IV – Mediterranean type
Self-protection time: < 30 min
– brownish or olive-colored skin even when not tanned
– brown eyes
– brown or black hair
– no freckles
– quick tan to medium brown
– rarely sunburned
Recommended sun protection factor: UV index of 3-4 is 10 and UV index of 9+ is 15.
Type V – Dark skin types
Self-protection time: < 60 min
– dark skin even when not tanned, often a gray undertone
– dark eyes
– black hair
– no freckles
– quick tan to dark brown
– hardly any sunburn
Recommended sun protection factor: UV index of 3-4 is 4 and UV index of 9+ is 8.
Type VI – Black skin types
Self-protection time: < 90 min
– dark brown to black skin even when not tanned
– black eyes
– black hair
– no freckles
– practically never sunburnt
Recommended sun protection factor: UV index of 3-4 is 2 and UV index of 9+ is 4.
What skin type am I?
Skin type can be determined by factors such as skin and hair color, freckles and nipple color. In general, the lighter the skin, hair and nipples and the more freckles you have, the shorter the skin’s own protection time.
However, these are only indications and do not allow an exact skin type analysis, as the percentage of eumelanin in the skin is decisive. This eumelanin content can and should be determined by a visit to your dermatologist.
Only then can you say with absolute certainty what skin type you are.