Can your skin type change?

I have noticed that my skin no longer tans when i go in the sun. I am a 30 year old caucasion male who thought i had sun skin type of three, i.e dark hair who would burn if i stayed out too long, but would always tan. About three years ago i noticed that now my skin does not tan,instead of going brown it turns a reddish/pink colour which fades over a few days.I dont spend very much time in the sun and have only been sunburnt a couple of times so cant imagine it is some form of sun damage. This happens all over my body.The only possible relevant change has been that at about the same time as i noticed the skin change i was diagnosed as type 1 diabetic, but it is well controlled and the diabetes doctors i have spoken to dont think there is a link. Has anyone heard of or experienced anything similar? Thanks in advance.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Occasionally people tell me their skin no longer tans as it used to.  This isn't the kind of consistent finding that has a name, or for that matter an implication.  If your skin doesn't tan, you're better off using a good sunblock (or avoiding the sun), whether you used to tan before or not.  Perhaps you should have your skin checked completely.  Again, however, I don't think this means much of anything.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff