How to read uv index

The UV Index Scale

UV Index 0-2 means minimal danger from the sun’s UV rays for the average person. UV Index 3-5 means low risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. UV Index 6-7 means moderate risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure. UV Index 8-10 means high risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure.

The World Health Organization’s Global Solar UV Index measures UV levels on a scale from 0 (Low) to 11+ (Extreme). Sun protection is recommended when UV levels are 3 (Moderate) or higher.

Dermatologists strongly agree that it is not safe to use baby oil for tanning. … Tanning simply isn’t healthy. “[Baby oil] can make you tan more quickly because it absorbs the sun better,” says Sperling. “However, it’s not worth the risk of damaging the skin and potentially developing skin cancer.”

A UV Index reading of 0 to 2 means low danger from the sun’s UV rays for the average person. Wear sunglasses on bright days. If you burn easily, cover up and use broad spectrum SPF 30+ sunscreen. Watch out for bright surfaces, like sand, water and snow, which reflect UV and increase exposure.

Your skin needs both UVA and UVB light to tan. … Moderate includes UV index ranges from an index of 3 to 5, vs. high which is 6-7, very high which is 8-10 and extreme which is 11+.

A UV Index reading between 3 and 5 means there is a moderate risk of sunburn for the average person. At this level it is suggested to seek shade between 10AM and 4PM when the sun’s rays are its strongest. Wearing protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses, is a great way to limit exposure.

The maximum UV level on any given day occurs during the four-hour period between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., a timeframe scientists refer to as ‘solar noon. ‘ When the UV Index is featured in news and/or weather reports, it’s typically used to forecast the maximum UV levels for the following day for a specific region.

On Dec. 29, 2003, a world-record UV index of 43.3 was detected at Bolivia’s Licancabur volcano. The UV index is used to forecast the strength of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

Cloud factor

“UV is affected by many things. … UV radiation can penetrate through thin cloud, so you can still get high levels of UV at ground level on overcast days, he says. Patchy clouds can also intensify UV levels because radiation is reflected off the clouds’ edge.

While clouds do reduce some of the sun’s UV rays, they don’t block all of them, as the Skin Cancer Foundation explains. … UVB rays can also damage your skin year-round, cloudy or not, especially at high altitudes where there’s less atmosphere to absorb ultraviolet radiation.

When you are out in the sun, wear clothing to cover your skin. Clothes provide different levels of UV protection. … If you can see light through a fabric, UV rays can get through, too. Many companies now make clothing that’s lightweight, comfortable, and protects against UV rays even when wet.

UV rays are one of the components of the white light that comes from the Sun. During the night, there is no available source of UV rays.

On Rainy Days

Just because you can’t feel the sun beating down doesn’t mean you’re not at risk for UV exposure. UVA rays can penetrate through clouds, rain and fog, leaving you exposed. Also keep in mind that summer storms can pass quickly, so when the sky clears, you might be caught unexpectedly in the sun.

Darker colors absorb more UV than lighter colors like whites and pastels. This means the UV rays are less likely to reach your skin. But bright colors such as red can also absorb UV rays. The more vivid the color, the greater the protection—a bright yellow shirt is more protective than a pale one.

While glass blocks UVB rays pretty well, it doesn’t block UVA rays. Windshields are treated to shield drivers from some UVA, but side, back and sunroof windows usually aren’t. So when you’re in your car, you should protect yourself and your family from that sunlight shining through the glass.

The researchers dyed cotton fabrics a range of red, blue and yellow shades and measured the effectiveness of each dyed fabric to protect against UV light. Fabrics with darker or more intense colors had better UV protection, the researchers say, and yellow shades offered the least.

Unbleached cotton contains natural lignins that act as UV absorbers. … Tight clothing can stretch and reduce the level of protection offered, as the fibers pull away from each other and allow more UV light to pass through.

Curtains and drapes will certainly block the UV rays when they are closed, but unfortunately, they also block the sunlight which some people enjoy, especially in sunrooms. Plus, don’t forget that over time, the fabric of these shades and drapes will suffer from sun damage and need to be replaced.

Towels do not block UV rays. It’s up to tanners to monitor the amount of UV exposure to their face and take appropriate precautions.

According to a U.S. study published in JAMA Dermatology, any fully-functioning handheld umbrella can block more than three-quarters of ultraviolet (UV) light on a sunny day. Black ones do even better, blocking at least 90 percent of rays. … All but one of the umbrellas was a standard, handheld rain umbrella.