Staying sun safe: Understanding the UV Index

Here's some tips on how to stay safe under the sun's UV rays, all year round.

Anyone can be affected by the damage of sun over exposure, in the last year around 35% of people in the UK were burnt at least once and around 28% of those were burnt more than three times during the year.

Therefore, it is important to stay safe when exposed to the sun, the simplest ways to stay protected is by using sunscreen, wearing a hat and covering skin. This can save your skin the risk of painful damage due to being exposed by the sun.

You should also stay on top of the day's UV-Index rating which can be found here on the Weather and Radar app with your daily forecast.

This index ranges from one, little risk, to 11, extreme risk of damage. As summer approaches you need to watch out for any rating of three or higher. The highest rating ever recorded in the UK is an eight.

At high levels it is advised to keep out of direct sunlight around midday. It is also important to make sure protective clothing is worn and sunscreen with an SPF of 30+ is applied every two hours to prevent sunburn and irritation.

There are three types of UV rays: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC is the most dangerous form of UV radiation, but luckily this is absorbed by the atmosphere before it reaches Earth. UVB penetrates the top layer of the skin and leads to sunburn.

UVA, however is the most potent source of UV which we are exposed to all year long. UVA can even pass through windows and clouds and penetrates deep into our skin leading to ageing and increases our risk of skin cancer.

This year make sure that you stay protected from the risks of sun exposure and spread the word to educate others on how to avoid the risk of the sun damaging your skin.