The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the best natural source of vitamin D.
However, too much UV exposure from the sun and other sources, such as solariums , are the major cause of sunburn, premature ageing, eye damage and skin damage leading to skin cancer.
UV cannot be seen or felt. It is not like the sun’s light which we see, or the sun’s warmth (infrared radiation) which we feel. Our senses cannot detect UV so it can be damaging without us knowing.
There is a huge variation in UV levels across Australia. The UV level is affected by a number of factors including the time of day, time of year, cloud cover, altitude, proximity to the equator, scattering and reflection.
Daily sun protection times
The daily sun protection times are calculated from the UV alert, consisting of the times of the day when the UV is predicted to be 3 or above. When the UV is 3 and above it can be damaging to the skin.
SunSmart recommends using a combination of the five sun protection measures during the daily sun protection times:
1. Slip on clothing ,
2. Slop on SPF30 or higher sunscreen ,
3. Slap on a hat ,
4. Seek shade and
5. Slide on sunnies.
Visit the Sun Smart Site for more information. http://www.sunsmart.com.au/
