Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Determining if you have oily or dry skin
• Part 2 of 4: Assessing your risk of sun damage using the Fitzpatrick test
• Part 3 of 4: Measure how your skin reacts to sunlight
• Part 4 of 4: Protect your skin according to your skin type
• Tips
• Warnings

Different skin types are distinguished, depending on whether your skin is oily, dry, normal, sensitive or a combination of these. Knowing your skin type can help you determine which skincare products to use on your skin to make it healthier. In addition to determining whether you have oily or dry skin, you can use the Fitzpatrick scale to measure how sensitive your skin is genetically to damage and how your skin reacts to the sun. You receive a certain number of points per answer. You add these points together to determine your skin type. This questionnaire is not a substitute for medical advice.

To step

Part 1 of 4: Determining if you have oily or dry skin

1. Watch for dry patches. You can have dry skin in some areas if your skin is red, wrinkly, dull, and rough. If you have dry skin, you probably won't be able to see your pores in those areas. Your skin may even look flaky and itchy. If your skin dries out quickly, you can protect it by doing the following:
   • Don't take long, hot showers. It's okay to shower for 10 to 15 minutes with water that is pleasant to the touch, but not too hot. Don't shower more than once a day.
   • Use mild soap. Avoid highly scented soaps. Do not rub your skin too hard when you wash, as this will remove the natural oils from your skin.
   • Use a moisturizer after taking a shower. You may need to apply it in the morning and evening.
   • Only heat your home to an average temperature. If the air in your home is often very dry, use a humidifier to keep the air moist enough.
   • Protect your skin from harsh chemicals. This may mean you may need to wear gloves when washing dishes, using strong soap, or working with chemical cleaners.
   • Protect your skin from harsh weather conditions, such as wind, sun and hot and cold weather. These conditions can all cause your skin to dry out. Cover your skin as much as possible and use suntan lotion, even when the weather is cold but sunny.
2. Recognize oily skin. You probably have oily skin if your skin is glowing, has large, visible pores, and if you develop blackheads and blemishes easily. If you have oily skin, you may be able to make it healthier by doing the following:
   • Only use non-comedogenic skin care products. This means that the products have been tested and found not to clog pores. This is especially important with make-up.
   • Do not squeeze or pick on pimples and blackheads. This will make them worse and irritate the skin around them. It can also cause scarring.
   • Wash your skin after exercising or doing anything else that makes you sweat. However, don't wash more than twice a day.
   • Use a mild soap that won't irritate your skin.
3. Determine if you have combination skin. This is very common. Many people have skin that is oily in some areas, such as the nose, and dry in others. Areas that dry out quickly include the backs of your hands, elbows, and legs and arms. If you have combination skin, you may need to adapt your skincare routine to these different areas.
   • Oily areas can shine and open blackheads can quickly develop in those areas. Let blemishes and blackheads heal in areas with oily skin and wash your skin twice a day with a mild soap. Only use non-comedogenic skin care products.
   • Dry patches can be itchy and red, rough and scaly. Apply moisturizer to these areas regularly. Protect your skin from very high and very low temperatures, wind and harsh chemicals.
4. Be happy if you have normal skin. Younger people more often have normal skin. You probably have normal skin if:
   • You rarely get pimples and blackheads.
   • Your pores are not enlarged and are not easy to see.
   • Your skin does not have dry, flaky, itchy and red patches.
   • Your skin looks healthy, has an even color and is supple.
5. Take care of your skin no matter what skin type you have. These tips will help you maintain healthy, glowing skin. They are suitable for all skin types and ages.
   • Wash away sebum, dead skin cells and dirt daily with a mild cleanser. That way, your pores won't get clogged and breakouts won't form. You also remove irritants that you may have come into contact with during your day.
   • Don't sleep with makeup on. This can cause your skin to become dry and you can suffer from breakouts.
   • Fight wrinkles by using a moisturizer with a sun protection factor every day. This way you protect your skin against damage caused by the sun.
   • Do not smoke. Smoking will make your skin look older and less healthy and you will get more wrinkles. If you already smoke, your skin will look better when you quit.

Part 2 of 4: Assessing your risk of sun damage using the Fitzpatrick test

1. Look at the color of your eyes. People with light eyes often also have lighter skin. Determine your score by the color of your eyes:
   • 0. Light blue, light gray or light green eyes.
   • 1. Blue, gray or green eyes.
   • 2. Hazelnut brown or light brown eyes.
   • 3. Dark brown eyes.
   • 4. Very dark brown eyes.
2. Look at your hair color. For this, you look at your natural hair color as a young adult, before your hair started to turn gray. Estimate your hair color in the following way:
   • 0. Red, red blond or light blond hair.
   • 1. Blonde hair.
   • 2. Dark blond, sandy or light brown hair.
   • 3. Dark brown hair.
   • 4. Black hair.
3. Look at your skin tone. To do this, you look at the color of your tan skin. In general, darker skin tans more quickly and is less susceptible to sun damage.
   • 0. Very light skin.
   • 1. Pale or light skin.
   • 2. Light, beige or golden skin.
   • 3. Olive or light brown skin.
   • 4. Dark brown to black skin.
4. Check how many freckles you have. People with lighter skin tend to have more freckles. Freckles are small, dark brown spots on the skin. They often form after you have been in the sun and are usually 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter. Check how many freckles you have in areas that aren't exposed to the sun.
   • 0. Lots of freckles.
   • 1. A few freckles.
   • 2. Only a few freckles.
   • 3. Very few freckles.
   • 4. No freckles.

Part 3 of 4: Measure how your skin reacts to sunlight

1. Consider whether you also burn. Determine if your skin tans when you expose it to the sun, or if it is more likely to burn, turn red, and blister. Count your points based on the following criteria:
   • 0. Your skin only burns.Your skin turns red, burns, flakes and blisters form.
   • 1. Your skin usually burns. Most of the time, you burn, blister, and flake your skin.
   • 2. Light sunburn. You sometimes burn, but usually not badly.
   • 3. Your skin occasionally burns. Your skin doesn't burn often.
   • 4. No sunburn. Your skin does not burn.
2. Consider whether your skin is also getting tanned. In general, the more you burn, the less you tan and vice versa. Count your points based on how brown you get:
   • 0. Skin never tans.
   • 1. Skin almost never tans.
   • 2. Skin sometimes turns brown.
   • 3. Skin usually turns brown.
   • 4. Skin always tans.
3. Determine how easily you tan. People with darker skin tend to tan more easily than people with very pale skin. They also get more brown. Determine where you are on the following scale:
   • 0. Skin does not tan.
   • 1. Skin darkens slightly. You get a little bit more brown.
   • 2. Skin turns brown. You will be considerably more tanned.
   • 3. Skin turns very brown. You become a lot tanner.
   • 4. Your skin is already very dark, but it is also getting tanner.
4. Determine how your face reacts to sun exposure. Some people have more sensitive skin and burn very quickly and get freckles very quickly, while others don't. Count your points by how your facial skin reacts to the sun:
   • 0. You are very sensitive. You get freckles and burn quickly, even if you don't spend very long in the sun.
   • 1. You are sensitive to the sun. Your face burns quickly and you get freckles quickly.
   • 2. You are not very sensitive and do not burn or get freckles easily.
   • 3. You are insensitive to the sun. You can often sit in the sun without noticing it.
   • 4. You have never noticed skin burns and freckles, even if you expose your skin to very strong sunlight for a long time.

Part 4 of 4: Protect your skin according to your skin type

1. Watch out for skin damage if you have skin type 1. People with skin type 1 score 0-6 points for the above questions. They have very fair skin and burn very easily. To protect yourself, do the following:
   • Use very strong sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 30 when you go outside. It is even better to use an even stronger suntan lotion. Make sure you always put the product on your skin, not just in the summer or when you go to the beach. Consider using a moisturizer with a sun protection factor every morning.
   • Avoid sun exposure by wearing a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and a hat or cap. You can still burn when is cloudy.
   • Get checked for skin cancer at least once a year. You run a high risk of cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Every few weeks, check your skin for discolorations and moles that enlarge and change shape. If you discover anything, see a dermatologist right away.
2. Take care of your skin if you have skin type 2. If you have a score of between 7 and 12 points, you have skin type 2. People with skin type 2 are slightly less prone to damage to the skin than people with skin type 1, but can still burn easily and will also need to use sunscreen. Do the following:
   • Use suntan lotion when you go outside, on both sunny and cloudy days. The easiest way to do this is to use a moisturizer with sun protection factor. The product must have a sun protection factor of at least 30 to work properly. It also helps to cover your bare skin as much as possible with a thin long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and a cap or hat.
   • See a dermatologist at least once a year to have your freckles, moles, and other blemishes checked. You also run a high risk of cancers such as basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Check your skin every month and contact your dermatologist if there are any patches that enlarge and change.
3. Make sure your skin does not burn badly if you have skin type 3. If you have achieved between 13 and 18 points, you have skin type 3. People with skin type 3 have more natural pigment in the skin than people with skin types 1 and 2, but often suffer damage from the sun. You can reduce the risk by doing the following:
   • Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15 every day and avoid direct sunlight during those hours of the day when the sun is strongest. This means that you stay indoors or in the shade as much as possible between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If you can't do that because you work outside, use suntan lotion and wear a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and a wide-brimmed hat.
   • See a dermatologist every year for a skin cancer check-up. People with skin type 3 are also prone to developing basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma. Check your skin every month to make sure you don't have spots that get bigger and change shape.
4. Don't spend too long in the sun to get a tan if you have skin type 4. If you have reached between 19 and 24 points, you have skin type 4. This means that you usually tan and rarely burn. However, this does not mean that your skin cannot be damaged. It is still important to protect yourself:
   • Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher every day and avoid the strongest sunlight. Stay in the shade as much as possible in the middle of the day.
   • Check your skin for suspicious areas every month and have your skin examined by a doctor once a year. You have less risk of developing skin cancer, but you can still get cancer.
5. Even if you have skin type 5, check your skin for the signs of damage. If you have reached between 25 and 30 points you have skin type 5. This means that you are unlikely to burn, even if your skin absorbs the sunlight and is damaged. Protect yourself in the following ways:
   • Use a light sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher every day. This protects your skin from harmful UV rays. Especially in the middle of the day, stay away from areas with direct sunlight. This is when the sun is at its strongest.
   • Look for signs of acral lentiginous melanoma. This type of cancer is more common in people with darker skin. It is especially dangerous because it occurs in areas with little exposure to the sun. This means that people often do not realize they have cancer until the disease is at an advanced stage. If you notice discoloration on your palms, soles, or mucous membranes, contact your dermatologist right away. Check your skin monthly and always have an annual check-up.
6. Protect yourself, even if you have skin type 6. If you have scored 31 points or higher, you have skin type 6. This means that your skin will not burn, even if you are outside in the bright sun. However, you can still get skin cancer and it is important that you protect yourself.
   • By using a mild sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 15 or higher, you protect your skin against the strongest radiation. Also, don't sit in the sun for long in the middle of the day.
   • Recognize acral lentiginous melanoma. People with very dark skin get these melanomas in places where they are difficult to recognize. They often develop on the mucous membranes, the soles of the feet or the hands. Don't skip your annual dermatologist appointment and don't forget to check your skin every month for strange discolorations.

Tips

• Dermatologists recommend using sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30, regardless of your skin type.
• If you have skin type 3, 4, 5 or 6, you can ask your doctor which sun protection factor is best for you.

Warnings

• Babies and toddlers are very sensitive to the sun. Keep children 6 months or younger out of the sun as much as possible. Suntan lotion may not be safe for children this young. Seek advice from your doctor before applying sunscreen to a child aged six months or younger.
• Coat children older than 6 months with sunscreen with a sun protection factor of 30 or higher. Look for sunscreen that is suitable for small children and use it according to the directions on the package.