Skin type

The skin type is a characterization of the skin, for example with regard to its sensitivity to the sun. The sensitivity to solar radiation that can damage them depends primarily on genetic factors. The skin is greased differently over the body (mostly combination skin). When sebum is overproduced , seborrheic areas of skin develop . The condition of the skin also depends heavily on age and on environmental factors, skin aging ; their properties are determined in cosmetics, for example, by measuring skin elasticity, skin moisture and transepidermal water loss . The skin type is also important in connection with the assessment of age spots and the detection of skin cancer .

Sensitivity to the sun

The skin's sensitivity to the sun depends on the skin type and the UV index . Swiss sources recommend slightly higher sun protection factors against permanent and accumulating skin damage.

The self-protection time is the maximum amount of time that you can expose your untanned skin to the sun in the course of a day without the skin becoming red or reddened. Depending on the skin type, the self-protection time is between three minutes for very light skin (skin type I) and forty minutes for Mediterranean, brownish skin (skin type IV). It is standardized at UV index 8 (midday sun in summer in Central Europe ).

With a higher UV index (high mountains, Mediterranean, tropics) and a reflective environment (water, snow, sand), the self-protection time is significantly lower. With skin that has been used to the sun in weeks - but not after using self-tanners or tanning in a solarium - the self-protection time is longer.

Multiplying the self-protection time by the sun protection factor of the sun cream results in the maximum possible time in the sun without sunburn with UV index 8. A self-protection time of 20 minutes and a sun protection factor of 10, for example, results in 200 minutes theoretically possible sunbathing . Any stays in the sun within the last 24 hours must be taken into account. Even with sun protection, staying in the sun should therefore be limited to a level that is harmless to health.

Fitzpatrick skin types

Fitzpatrick skin type scale

In 1975, the American dermatologist Thomas Fitzpatrick (1919–2003) developed a classification to enable the therapeutic use of PUVA in fair-skinned people to adjust the dosage to their skin type . The original classification included types I to IV (white-skinned) and was later expanded to include types V (brown skin) and VI (black skin)

With this classification, which is used today, caution is advised because the skin color can only be an indication, but ultimately the percentage of eumelanin in the skin is decisive for the skin type question. The most important factor for determining the skin type is the color of the unirradiated skin in daylight, but observed tanning behavior and tendency to sunburn are relatively reliable indicators. The reliable determination of the skin type is possible by measuring the eumelanin content in the skin at a dermatologist.

It also appears problematic to represent a skin type only with a single image, since there are also variations within a skin type class and the scale of the skin types has classes of different sizes. The differentiation within skin types I – IV is much more pronounced.

The assignment to a skin type depends on the amount of melanin produced individually, which is not related to the number of melanocytes . However, within a certain range, melanin is also increasingly formed by exposure to sunlight ( ultraviolet radiation ).

Type I.

• features
  • very light skin tone
  • very light nipples
  • reddish or light blonde hair
  • blue, green, or light gray eyes
  • Freckles
  • does not turn brown, but gets freckles
  • very common sunburn
  • very high risk of skin cancer
• Self-protection time
  • <10 minutes
• Recommended sun protection measures
  • Prefer shade, especially at noon
  • Hat with neck protection
  • Dress appropriately for arms and upper body
  • Sunglasses with UV protection
  • Particularly protect the nose, ears and lips
• Recommended sun protection factor
  • UV index 3-4: 15
  • UV index 9+: 25-35

Type II

• features
  • light skin
  • moderately pigmented nipples
  • blonde, light brown hair
  • blue, gray or green eyes
  • often freckles
  • slow, minimal browning
  • frequent sunburn
  • high risk of skin cancer
• Self-protection time
  • 10-20 minutes
• Recommended sun protection measures
  • Prefer shade, especially at noon
  • Hat with neck protection
  • Dress appropriately for arms and upper body
  • Sunglasses with UV protection
  • Particularly protect the nose, ears and lips
• Recommended sun protection factor
  • UV index 3-4: 10-15
  • UV index 9+: 20-25

Type III

• features
  • medium-light skin tone
  • moderately brown nipples
  • dark brown or light brown, dark blonde hair, sometimes blonde or black hair
  • brown, blue, green, or gray eyes
  • hardly any freckles
  • slow but progressive browning to light brown
  • sometimes sunburn, there is a risk of skin cancer
• Self-protection time
  • 20-30 minutes
• Recommended sun protection measures
  • Avoid sun over midday
  • Headgear and sunglasses
  • Particularly protect the lips and neck
• Recommended sun protection factor
  • UV index 3-4: 10-15
  • UV index 9+: 15-20

Type IV

• features
  • brownish or olive-colored skin, even when it is not tanned
  • dark nipples
  • brown or black hair
  • Brown eyes
  • no freckles
  • quick browning to medium brown
  • rarely sunburn
  • low risk of skin cancer
• Self-protection time
  • > 45 minutes
• Recommended sun protection measures
  • Headgear and sunglasses
  • Particularly protect your nose, lips and neck in the mountains and by the sea
• Recommended sun protection factor
  • UV index 3-4: 10
  • UV index 9+: 15

Type V

• features
  • dark to light brown skin, even when it is not tanned, often a gray undertone
  • Black hair
  • Brown eyes
  • no freckles
  • quick browning to dark brown
  • hardly any sunburn
  • low risk of skin cancer, but caution is advised
• Self-protection time
  • > 60 minutes
• Recommended sun protection measures
  • Headgear and sunglasses
  • Particularly protect your nose, lips and neck in the mountains and by the sea
• Recommended sun protection factor
  • UV index 3-4: 4
  • UV index 9+: 8

Type VI

• features
  • dark brown to black skin, even when it is not tanned
  • Black hair
  • Brown eyes
  • no freckles
  • hardly any sunburn
  • low risk of skin cancer
• Self-protection time
  • > 90 minutes (longer than with skin type V)
• Recommended sun protection measures
  • Headgear and sunglasses
  • Particularly protect your nose, lips and neck in the mountains and by the sea
• Recommended sun protection factor
  • UV index 3-4: 2
  • UV index 9+: 4

Skin colors like Luschan

Felix von Luschan - skin color scale

The Von Luschan scale developed by Felix von Luschan (1854–1924) was used to determine skin color . With 36 levels, this historical classification is much finer than the Fitzpatrick classification. The Fitzpatrick classification seems sufficient for assessing the individual risk of sunburn and skin cancer.

swell

• Ingrid Moll (ed.). Dermatology. Thieme Verlag, 2005, ISBN 3-13-126686-4 , p. 534 ff.
• Lewis Tanenbaum et al: Tar Phototoxicity and Phototherapy for Psoriasis. In: Archives of Dermatology . 111 (4), 1975, pp. 467-470. (on-line)

Individual evidence

1. ↑ physiotop.dermapharm.de
2. ↑ Determination of skin moisture, skin elasticity and transepidermal water loss pharmazie-lehrbuch.de 2009
3. ^ Prevention - The 6 skin types hautkrebs-screening.de
4. ^ TB Fitzpatrick: Soleil et Peau. In: Journal de Médecine Esthétique. 2, 1975, pp. 33-34.
5. ↑ MA Pathak, K. Jimbow, G. Szabo, TB Fitzpatrick: Sunlight and melanin pigmentation. In: Smith, KC (Ed.): Photochemical and photobiological reviews. Plenum Press, New York 1976, pp. 211-239.
6. ^ TB Fitzpatrick: Ultraviolet-induced pigmentary changes: Benefits and hazards. In: Therapeutic Photomedicine. (= Current Problems in Dermatology . Volume 15). Karger, 1986, pp. 25-38.

Web links

Wiktionary: skin type  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

• UV index forecast by the German Weather Service

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !