Bieliauskiene G, Holm-Schou ASS, Philipsen PA, et al. - In the present study, the researchers sought to objectively measure sun sensitivity (assessed as pigment protection factor (PPF)) in five European countries, relate it to self-assessed Fitzpatrick skin phototype (FST) and to ascertain if PPF levels in the different FST categories are dependent on the investigated countries. Five hundred sixty-nine volunteers were enlisted in Copenhagen (Denmark), Dublin (Ireland), London (England), Münster (Germany) and Ioannina (Greece). Overall, statistically significant differences were observed in PPF of the buttocks, inner arm, outer arm, forehead, chest, and back between the five countries. Compared with southern latitudes, objectively measured sun sensitivity is higher (lower PPF) in northern. The choice of self-identified FST category is affected by a person's immediate environment. Therefore, the relative nature of the FST scale and the need to standardize the skin phototype assessment procedure was confirmed.