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  |  Women's Health  |  Women's Cancers  |  Protect your skin from the sun
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Some surprising facts from the Colonel

Protect your skin from the sun

cancer research UK There are five golden rules to help protect you and your family from the damage the sun can cause. In turn, this will reduce your risk of skin cancer

  • Stay in the shade between 11am and 3pm
  • Make sure you never burn
  • Always cover up
  • Remember to take extra care with children
  • Use factor 15+ sunscreen

    What affects the strength of UV rays?
    The strength of UV rays outside can vary depending on:
  • the time of year
  • the time of day
  • the weather
  • how much ozone there is in the stratosphere
  • altitude (how high up you are)

    The Solar UV index
    To help you know when you need to be extra careful outside, the World Health Organisation developed the UV index. The UV index is a way of describing how strong the UV will be during weather forecast and reports. The top number for high levels of UV is 10. When there is this much UV you should try to stay in the shade. But when the UV is 1 or 2 it is not very dangerous and you don't need to think about sun protection as much. UV ratings are usually shown as a number in a triangle on a weather map. How dangerous the UV level is for you depends on your skin type. The fairer you are, the more dangerous the sun's UV rays are.

    Where can I check the UV index?
    To check the UV ratings for today go to the Met Office website. You will also find a table explaining the different skin types on this page.

    Join the discussions on the Cancer Support message board.



    In association with Cancer Research UK. Registered charity number 1089464


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    This iVillage Health service area is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or hands-on treatment. If you are concerned about your health or that of a child, please consult your family's health provider immediately and do not wait for a response from our professionals. For the full Disclaimer, click here.
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