Sun protection is needed when UV is 3 or above to reduce your risk of developing skin cancer.
It is UV that causes skin damage, not temperature, meaning you can also be exposed to damaging levels of UV on cool and cloudy days. In fact, for some people unprotected skin can start to burn (visible damage) in as little as 11 minutes on days with extreme levels of UV radiation. Check the SunSmart App daily for your local sun protection requirements.
If you are often outdoors, for example, an outdoor worker, you will need to use sun protection every day, regardless of the UV rating. This extra protection is needed as you are exposed to much more cumulative UV damage than the average person. Read more about sun safety for outdoor workers.
Day-to-day activities add up
While a lot of Australians know about the link between high UV radiation and skin cancer, many of us are unaware of the cumulative effect of UV, and therefore don’t feel the need to think about sun protection during many of the day-to-day activities we take for granted.
Don’t forget – small doses of UV during day-to-day activities adds up. Even when doing passive activities such as gardening, walking to the shops, or having coffee with friends, remember to use sun protection.
UV levels can vary by factors including geographic location, time of day and cloud cover. It’s important to check your daily local sun protection times and requirements.
