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When should I protect my skin
Sunlight is made up of light, heat and ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Visible rays of the sun are light-giving rays while infrared rays provide heat.
UV radiation is the part of sunlight that causes sunburn and skin damage and leads to premature ageing and skin cancer. There are three types of naturally occurring ultraviolet rays - UVA, UVB and UVC.
UVA and UVB are of concern because of their potential to cause skin cancer. UVC does not reach the earth's surface and is absorbed or scattered in the atmosphere.
Can I feel UV radiation?
UV radiation cannot be seen or felt. UV levels are not related to air temperature - maximum UV levels occur around midday when the sun is directly overhead. High levels of UV radiation also occur on cool days. Remember, you can still get burnt on cloudy days – especially if cloud cover is thin. Cloud scatters the UV radiation in all directions and although you receive less direct UV radiation you may receive more indirectly. Heavy cloud does decrease the amount of UV radiation. Scattered patchy cloud has little or no effect on UV radiation levels. When is UV radiation most damaging?
UV radiation levels are dangerous for skin when they reach a UV Index level of 3 or above. UV radiation levels are strongest over the middle hours of the day – between 10am and 3pm – but are also strong enough outside of these hours to cause skin damage. UV radiation is strongest during the months that the sun is directly overhead. In South Australia, from August to May, UV levels across the day range from moderate to extreme every day. How is UV measured?
UV radiation levels are divided into low (1–2), moderate (3–5), high (6–7), very high (8–10) and extreme (11 and above). A UV Index level of 3 is high enough to cause skin damage – so it’s important to protect your skin when the UV radiation level is 3 and above. The higher the UV radiation levels, the less time it takes for skin damage to occur.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicts UV levels with the weather forecast every day and produces the SunSmart UV Alert.
This shows the times during the day (ie 9:35 am – 4:12pm) that the UV radiation levels are 3 and above, which is when you need to protect your skin. It’s a really useful tool for anyone planning outdoor activities.
Stay up to date on the skin protection needs for yourself and your family by checking the UV Alert every day.
UV Index
Look for the SunSmart UV Alert on the weather page of the daily newspaper.
Find online UV levels in Australia at the ARPANSA website, including realtime UV levels across Australia. This real time guide is particularly helpful during spring and autumn, when it’s hard to tell what the UV level may be.
Find out more
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency  Top
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Prevention & early detection 
