It depends on the skin type
Not every skin type reacts to solar radiation in the same way, so the intrinsic protection time varies greatly from skin type to skin type.
People with very fair skin (skin type 1) only have an intrinsic protection time of five to ten minutes. People with less sensitive and naturally darker skin (skin type 4) enjoy an intrinsic protection time of 40 minutes. For the other two skin types V and VI, UV protection is is generally not relevant, since a indirect influence under normal weather conditions is rather marginal due to the nature of the skin.
The five skin types at a glance
- very fair-skinned
- red or blond hair
- blue eyes
- always heavy, aching sunburns
Intrinsic protection time
5-10 minutes
Protection by a textile with UPF 20
100-200 minutes
(approx 1-3 hours)
- fair-skinned
- blond or brown hair
- blue, green or grey eyes
- often heavy, aching sunburns
Intrinsic protection time
10-20 minutes
Protection by a textile with UPF 20
200-400 minutes
(approx. 3-6 hours)
- light brown skin
- light brown or brown hair
- grey or brown eyes
- less common, less painful sunburns
Intrinsic protection time
20-30 minutes
Protection by a textile with UPF 20
400-600 minutes
(approx 6-10 hours)
- light brown or olive skin
- dark brown or black hair
- brown eyes
- very rarely sunburns
Intrinsic protection time
40 minutes
Protection by a textile with UPF 20
800 minutes
(approx 13 hours)
- very fair-skinned
- all hair colours
- all eyes colours
- rapid sunburns
Intrinsic protection time
5-10 minutes
Protection by a textile with UPF 20
100-200 minutes
(approx 1-3 hours)
UV Index
The intensity of the sun, as well as the individual skin type, is crucial when selecting suitable UV protection. The international UV index (UVI) provides information on the intensity of UV radiation in a specific location.
The daily UVI forecast is published, amongst others, by the German Meteorological Service.