Skin Type & Sensitivity to Sunburn
Anyone can develop skin cancer, although people with certain types of skin are at greater risk for developing sun damage and skin cancer. Your skin type (phototype) is one of the main factors in your risk for skin cancer, and is based on how your skin reacts to UV light. There are six skin phototypes, going from light to dark, with Type I being the most sensitive to UV and Type VI being the least sensitive to UV. In general, ppeople with darker skin have more protection against skin cancer because they naturally produce higher concentrations of the UV protection substance called melanin than fair-skinned people. However, all people need to protect their skin, especially in Australia, because the intensity of UV radiation is so strong. In Australia, the intensity of UV light is very high compared to countries in the Northern Hemisphere, this is because the tilt of the earth during summer brings Australia closer to the sun than the equivalent time during the northern hemisphere summer.