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

Skin Type 1
  • 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)


Skin Type 2
  • 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)


Skin Type 3
  • 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)


Skin Type 4
  • 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)


Children's skin
  • 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.