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UV Forecast E-mail

Daily (and 5 Day forecasts) for UK UV levels can be found using the below link

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_uv.html

Travelling further afield??

Europe -  http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/europe/europe_uv.html

Remember - It doesn't have to be hot for the UV index to be high.

UV Index
1/2
3/4/5
6/7
8/9/10
11+
Exposure Category
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
Extreme
Protection required None, You can safely stay outside Seek shade during midday hours, cover up and wear sunscreen Avoid being outside during midday hours. Shirt, sunscreen and hat essential

The solar index does not generally exceed 8 in the UK (8 is rare; 7 may occur on exceptional days, mostly in the two weeks around the summer solstice). Indices of 9 and 10 are common in the Mediterranean area.

 Skin Types and Their Reactions

Type IFair skin, blue or green eyes, little or no freckles.
Burns and peels severely.
Type II Fair skin, blue eyes, blond or brown hair.
Burns severly and easily peels, tans minimally.
Type IIIFair skin, brown hair, brown eyes.
Burns moderately, tans somewhat.
Type IVOlive or light brown skin, dark brown hair, dark eyes.
Burns minimally, tans easily.
Type VDark brown skin.
Rarely burns, tans easily and substantially.
Type VIBlack or dark brown skin, brown eyes, black or dark brown hair.
Burns only with severe exposure.

Which SPF is appropriate for your skin type?

SPF is the abbreviation for Sun Protection Factor and relates directly to the length of time a person can spend in the sun before they begin to burn with no protection. It is determined by multiplying the SPF number by the length of time a person can stay in the sun before they begin to burn with no protection. For example:

SPF Level Protection
SPF 2 protects from 50% of UVB light, leaving 50% available to penetrate the skin.
SPF 8 protects from 87.5% of UVB light, leaving 12.5% available to penetrate the skin.
SPF 15 protects from 93.3% of UVB light, leaving 6.7% available to penetrate the skin.
SPF 30 protects from 96.7% of UVB light, leaving 3.3% available to penetrate the skin.

Since burning is caused by UVB light, SPF does not apply to UVA protection. However, SPF’s of 15 and higher do screen out some of the UVA light. Formulations containing titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and the benzophenones afford UVA protection
 
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