Know your skin type

Everyone's skin is different and reacts differently to sun exposure.
By knowing how sensitive you are to burn, you will be able to take better precautions to protect your skin.

Tool: Match your skin to the colour that best resembles your own.

Skin type	Skin reaction to the sun
	Always burns easily, never tans, extremely sun sensitive
	Always burns easily, tans minimally, very sun sensitive
	Sometimes burns, tans gradually to light brown, minimally sun sensitive
	Burns minimally, always tans to moderate brown, minimally sun sensitive
	Rarely burns, tans well, skin not sensitive to sun
	Never burns, deeply pigmented, skin not sensitive to sun

If you have a skin type of I or II, you are at the highest risk of damage from UVR exposure.

People with skin type I have the lightest skin and may not get even a mild tan after repeated UV exposure. Instead, the skin suffers sunburn reactions. It is important to note that while you may have a skin type II or higher (where you seem to tan more easily), skin damage still occurs and too much exposure to UVR can still lead to skin cancer or melanoma.

FACT: Because Australia is relatively close to the equator, we receive higher levels of UVR. Be prepared and protect your skin in five ways.

Click here to find out more about the UV Index

Related links:
Want to know more about the structure of your skin?

Interesting links:
World Health Organization: Sunbeds, tanning and UV exposure: www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs287/en/index.html