diff --git a/registry.go b/registry.go
index 6ee69153..55bb0b8f 100644
--- a/registry.go
+++ b/registry.go
@@ -59,13 +59,23 @@ func DefaultSchemaNamer(t reflect.Type, hint string) string {
 	return name
 }
 
+type mapRegistryOption func(*mapRegistry)
+
+// WithPrimitiveTypeReuse allows primitive types to be reused.
+func WithPrimitiveTypeReuse() mapRegistryOption {
+	return func(r *mapRegistry) {
+		r.reusePrimitive = true
+	}
+}
+
 type mapRegistry struct {
-	prefix  string
-	schemas map[string]*Schema
-	types   map[string]reflect.Type
-	seen    map[reflect.Type]bool
-	namer   func(reflect.Type, string) string
-	aliases map[reflect.Type]reflect.Type
+	prefix         string
+	schemas        map[string]*Schema
+	types          map[string]reflect.Type
+	seen           map[reflect.Type]bool
+	namer          func(reflect.Type, string) string
+	aliases        map[reflect.Type]reflect.Type
+	reusePrimitive bool
 }
 
 func (r *mapRegistry) Schema(t reflect.Type, allowRef bool, hint string) *Schema {
@@ -83,6 +93,13 @@ func (r *mapRegistry) Schema(t reflect.Type, allowRef bool, hint string) *Schema
 	}
 
 	getsRef := t.Kind() == reflect.Struct
+
+	isNamedPrimitive := t.PkgPath() != "" && t.Name() != "" && t.Kind() != reflect.Struct
+	if isNamedPrimitive && r.reusePrimitive {
+		// Special case: named primitive-based types are reused.
+		getsRef = true
+	}
+
 	if t == timeType {
 		// Special case: time.Time is always a string.
 		getsRef = false
@@ -162,13 +179,19 @@ func (r *mapRegistry) RegisterTypeAlias(t reflect.Type, alias reflect.Type) {
 
 // NewMapRegistry creates a new registry that stores schemas in a map and
 // returns references to them using the given prefix.
-func NewMapRegistry(prefix string, namer func(t reflect.Type, hint string) string) Registry {
-	return &mapRegistry{
+func NewMapRegistry(prefix string, namer func(t reflect.Type, hint string) string, opts ...mapRegistryOption) Registry {
+	r := mapRegistry{
 		prefix:  prefix,
-		schemas: map[string]*Schema{},
-		types:   map[string]reflect.Type{},
-		seen:    map[reflect.Type]bool{},
-		aliases: map[reflect.Type]reflect.Type{},
+		schemas: make(map[string]*Schema),
+		types:   make(map[string]reflect.Type),
+		seen:    make(map[reflect.Type]bool),
 		namer:   namer,
+		aliases: make(map[reflect.Type]reflect.Type),
 	}
+
+	for _, opt := range opts {
+		opt(&r)
+	}
+
+	return &r
 }
diff --git a/registry_test.go b/registry_test.go
index 8fd014fc..297b7b85 100644
--- a/registry_test.go
+++ b/registry_test.go
@@ -73,3 +73,48 @@ func TestSchemaAlias(t *testing.T) {
 	schemaWithString := registry.Schema(reflect.TypeOf(StructWithString{}), false, "")
 	assert.Equal(t, schemaWithString, schemaWithContainer)
 }
+
+func TestReusePrimitiveType(t *testing.T) {
+	type (
+		CustomHeader string
+
+		firstRequest struct {
+			Header CustomHeader `json:"header" description:"A custom header"`
+		}
+
+		secondRequest struct {
+			AnotherHeader CustomHeader `json:"another_header" description:"Another custom header"`
+		}
+	)
+
+	// Default settings
+	registry := NewMapRegistry("#/components/schemas", DefaultSchemaNamer)
+
+	first := SchemaFromType(registry, reflect.TypeOf(firstRequest{}))
+	second := SchemaFromType(registry, reflect.TypeOf(secondRequest{}))
+
+	if first.Properties["header"].Ref != "" {
+		t.Errorf("Expected header to be defined inline, but got a ref: %s", first.Properties["header"].Ref)
+	}
+	if second.Properties["another_header"].Ref != "" {
+		t.Errorf("Expected another_header to be defined inline, but got a ref: %s", second.Properties["another_header"].Ref)
+	}
+
+	// Reusing primitive types enabled
+	registry = NewMapRegistry("#/components/schemas", DefaultSchemaNamer, WithPrimitiveTypeReuse())
+
+	first = SchemaFromType(registry, reflect.TypeOf(firstRequest{}))
+	second = SchemaFromType(registry, reflect.TypeOf(secondRequest{}))
+
+	if first.Properties["header"].Ref == "" {
+		t.Errorf("Expected header to use a ref, but it's defined inline")
+	}
+	if second.Properties["another_header"].Ref == "" {
+		t.Errorf("Expected another_header to use a ref, but it's defined inline")
+	}
+
+	if first.Properties["header"].Ref != second.Properties["another_header"].Ref {
+		t.Errorf("Expected both properties to use the same ref, but got %s and %s",
+			first.Properties["header"].Ref, second.Properties["another_header"].Ref)
+	}
+}