A photo-what? The phototype - also called "Fitzpatrick classification" - is a way of measuring the sensitivity of different types of skin to UV light. In total, there are 7 phototypes including the very rare phototype 0, which concerns albino people.

Elisa Simonpietri, director of scientific communication for Vichy International. tells us everything about the phototypes 0 and 1, the clearest.

The very rare phototype 0: albino skin

"Albinos do not synthesize melanin; it is a genetic deficit, "explains Elisa Simonpietri. "Albinos have extremely pale skin, pale yellow-white hair, and faintly colored eyes. This phototype involves extreme sun protection and the minimum possible time spent outdoors.

Phototype 1: how to recognize it?

Phototype 1 concerns people most sensitive to sunlight. The white skins, very clear, are part of it. "We find in this phototype the red hair , but also the blond hair, " begins Elisa Simonpietri. "Often the eyes are clear, blue or green, but you can not generalize. In addition to these characteristics, phototypes 1 often display numerous freckles and moles .

"The skins of the phototype 1 will systematically take sunburns but never tan," insists the expert. These skins that burn easily under the UV also see their freckles multiply. "The limit with the phototype II is very thin, but this one manages - in general - to reach a light tan".

Which solar products for phototype 1?

For Elisa Simonpietri, the sun protection of these very white skin is obvious: "most people who have very light skin do not even ask the question and spread sunscreen with each release".

The exhibition is not recommended, in general, but Elisa Simonpietri distinguishes 3 types of exhibition: the moderate exposure (a short outing, a lunch ...), the high exposure (walk, sports activity ...) and extreme exposure (altitudes, tropics ...). "As a rule of thumb, phototype I has to use 50-grade sunscreen," she says. "However, for moderate exposure, you can tolerate SPF 30 protection, as long as you make sure your product has the UVA logo, which plays a role in skin aging and cancer prevention."

Finally, "we give the skins of phototype 1 a little the same advice as babies, we avoid prolonged exposure and we do not try to tan! "Insists the specialist.

And to conclude: "if the exposure is long or extreme, one reapplies very regularly its sunscreen, with index 50 or 50 ".