UV Clothing and Skin Types: How to Protect Your Skin

As the sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation gets more and more exposure (excuse the pun, please!) in today's media, it's important to understand exactly how sun protection clothing plays a role in keeping us safe. 

While it certainly isn't realistic to assume that everyone should wear UV protective clothing at all times, it does help to have a basic understanding of who is at higher risk for sunburn and skin cancer than others.  Here's a breakdown of skin types and risk levels according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and how they are associated with sun protection clothing:

Type I – Redheads often fall into this category, along with those with freckles and those of Welsh, Irish, or Scottish descent.  People with extremely fair skin burn almost instantaneously when stepping out in the sun.  They never get a tan but always skip right to the burn.  People in this category should make sun protective apparel a focal point of their wardrobe.

Type II – Caucasians who are a shade darker than those with type I skin fall into this category.  They often have green or blue eyes and tend to burn very easily.  Like those in category I, UV protective clothing should be a mainstay in their wardrobe.

Type III – This category is reserved for people with average skin.  They fall somewhere between type I and type VI, sometimes getting sunburned and other times getting a nice golden brown tan that develops gradually.  A varied wardrobe of sun protective clothing items is in order for those in this category.

Type IV – People of Mediterranean descent or similarly pigmented skin fall into this category.  They have just a moderate problem with sun burn and should have a varied wardrobe of UV protection pieces.

Type V – Some African Americans, as well as Hispanics and people of Middle Eastern descent are usually in this category.  They hardly ever burn and generally tan pretty nicely.  Basic staples like a swimsuit and perhaps a caftan are in order for people in this category.

Type VI – This category includes African Americans with the darkest pigmented skin.  They never seem to burn even though they seem to spend all day outside!  Even people in this category should have some basic sun protective staples in their wardrobe.

It is also important to realize that we all need varying levels of sunlight on our skin in order to get our recommended daily allowance of vitamin D.  The amount of time ranges widely from people with type I skin, who only need about 15 minutes of sun four days a week to those in type VI, who need one to two hours of sun four days a week. 

Understanding how UV clothing plays a role in your sun protection according to your skin type is a major step in protecting yourself against skin cancer.