Different Skin Types and Sun Exposure

People burn or tan depending on their skin type, the time of year, and how long they are exposed to UV rays.  The types of skin, based on how likely it is to tan or burn, are:

I:  Always burns, never tans, sensitive to UV exposure.

II:  Burns easily, tans minimally.

III:  Burns moderately, tans gradually to light brown.

IV:  Burns minimally, always tans well to moderately brown.  Rarely burns, tans profusely to dark.

V:  Never burns, deeply pigmented, least sensitive.

Although everyone's skin can be damaged by UV exposure, people with skin types I and II are at the highest risk.

For more information about sunburn, visit Traveler's Health: Sunburn. For more information, visit the National Cancer Institute's Skin Cancer Risk Factors.

Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics (661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com 5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309

It's Ski Season! How to Protect Your Skin

How your eyes can give you away

You can always tell when someone returns from a ski trip--they have that raccoon look, a sunburned face around the outline of ski goggles.

The high altitude sun exposure is especially dangerous, and there are ways of protecting your skin from UV rays and reduce your risk of melanoma:

• wear a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher
• use waterproof sunscreen
• reapply sunscreen often, usually every two hours
• cover all exposed areas
• "broad spectrum" protects against both UV-A and UV-B rays
• wear wrap-around sunglasses to protect your eyes
• apply sunscreen 30 minutes before going outside

Source:  CANCERCARE
Robert G. Tupac, DDS, FACP, Inc., 
Diplomate, American Board of Prosthodontics
(661) 325-1275 | www.drtupac.com
5060 California Ave., #170, Bakersfield, CA 93309