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Sunburn: Skin Types

Topic Overview

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.

Skin types and 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

Credits

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

Last Revised: September 1, 2011

Author: Healthwise Staff

Medical Review: William H. Blahd, Jr., MD, FACEP - Emergency Medicine & H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine

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