Skin type
The Skin Type system is a method commonly used to assess one's sunburn risk. There are 6 (1 - 6) skin types (see below). The lower numbers represent those people more likely to burn and the higher numers are reserved for those people with a greater degree of natural protection.
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As we all know, fair skinned, light eyed people with freckles are the most sun sensitive while dark skinned dark eyed are the least sun sensitive. Everyone else is somewhere in-between. Again, it is important to remember that, while avoiding a burn is important, it does not mean that you have escaped more serious damage that can lead to damaged skin and even cancer.
- Type 1 - Always burns, never tans
- Type 2 - Usually burns, tans with difficulty
- Type 3 - Sometimes burns, sometimes tans
- Type 4 - Burn minimally, always tans
- Â Type 5 - Rarely burns, tans profusely
- Type 6 - Never burns, deeply tans
