Knowing your skin phototype helps protect it from the sun
What SPF do I need? How long can I sunbathe for? These are questions we might ask ourselves when we’re relaxing on the beach or by the pool. Using the correct sun screen is essential for our skin’s health and for avoiding premature skin ageing and damage that can lead to melanoma.
Understanding the different phototypes can help us take the necessary measures to avoid these risks. Phototype refers to the skin’s ability to adapt when exposed to the sun. We are all born with different levels of tolerance (depending on our pigmentation and hair and eye colour). These are described by a numerical classification system invented by Thomas B. Fitzpatrick in 1975.
So, phototype is the set of characteristics that determines whether, how quickly and how much a person’s skin will tan. The lower this capacity, the less able the skin is to counteract the effect of solar radiation.
Find out your skin group
Phototype I: very fair, pale white skin. These people have blue eyes, red hair and sometimes freckles, and always burn (their skin peels after getting burnt) and never tan. SPF factor 50 is recommended for this group.
Phototype II: these are people with fair skin (with or without freckles) and who go red easily. They also have blonde hair and blue or green eyes, and although they burn easily, they do tan slightly. This group also needs SPF factor 50.
Phototype III: people with pinkish-white skin, who burn moderately but gradually get a tan. This is the European phototype. This group is recommended SPF factors 30–50.
Phototype IV: people with brown skin, who tan very easily. This group is characterised by dark hair and eyes and they burn rarely. They need to use SPF factors 30–50.
Phototype V: these are people with dark skin, for example people of Middle Eastern or Indian descent. Their skin is dark naturally without exposure to the sun, and they tan quickly and intensely and very rarely burn. SPF factors 15–20 are recommended for this group.
Phototype VI: this is the phototype of black people, whose skin never burns with the sun. People in this group have dark hair and eyes and need to use SPF 15–20.
Exposure time
The sun protection factor (SPF) describes the approximate time we can expose ourselves to the sun without risk. For example, if we can expose our skin to the sun for 10 minutes without burning, factor 15 would protect it for 2 and a half hours: 15 X 10 minutes = 150 minutes. With SPF 30 we would be protected (30 X 10 minutes) for around 5 hours.
Even so, experts recommend reapplying sun cream every two hours, as we swim, touch ourselves and sweat. Some areas of the body are also more delicate than others, so it’s better to use too much than too little.
Knowing our phototype is very important to understanding how our skin reacts to sun exposure and how we should protect it. Because proper protection means having healthier skin and being more beautiful in the long term.
