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Skin Type V (Brown)
Brown skin that tans darkly and easily. Very rarely burns.
General sun-safety information, not medical advice. Burn times vary enormously with skin, the UV index, altitude, reflection off snow or water, and some medicines — when in doubt, cover up. Any new, changing or unusual mole or spot should be checked by a doctor.
How this skin reacts to the sun
Brown skin that tans darkly and easily. Very rarely burns. Remember that burn time is not fixed — it rises and falls with the UV index, altitude and reflection off snow, water or sand, so the same skin can be fine one day and burnt the next.
Protecting your skin
Your melanin gives real natural protection, but not total immunity — sunburn is still possible in intense sun, and sun protection remains sensible on the highest-UV days. Skin cancers are less common but can be missed, so have any new or changing spot checked.
What it means for vitamin D
You need meaningfully longer sun exposure than fair skin for the same vitamin D, which raises the risk of low levels through a high-latitude winter — diet and supplements often matter. At high latitudes the winter sun is too weak for anyone to make vitamin D from it, so diet and supplements bridge the gap regardless of skin type.
Other skin types
Type I — Very fair
Always burns, never tans.
Type II — Fair
Burns easily, tans minimally and poorly.
Type III — Light to medium
Sometimes burns mildly, tans gradually to a light brown.
Type IV — Olive / moderate brown
Rarely burns, tans easily and well.
Type VI — Deeply pigmented
Never burns.
Source: WHO Global Solar UV Index and general dermatology guidance on the Fitzpatrick scale. This is general information, not medical advice. · checked 2026-09-04
Frequently asked questions
Does skin type V burn?
Very rarely burns. Brown skin that tans darkly and easily.
How much sun protection do I need?
Your melanin gives real natural protection, but not total immunity — sunburn is still possible in intense sun, and sun protection remains sensible on the highest-UV days. Skin cancers are less common but can be missed, so have any new or changing spot checked.
What about vitamin D?
You need meaningfully longer sun exposure than fair skin for the same vitamin D, which raises the risk of low levels through a high-latitude winter — diet and supplements often matter.
Keep vitamin D up year round
TempoLife's food database shows the vitamin D in what you eat, so winter does not catch you short.