It’s important to protect your skin from the harmful effects of the sun.
Your skin is your body's main barrier that protects you from illness and injury. It needs care and attention to heal itself and support your wellbeing.
This is particularly true the older you are, as your skin becomes thinner and more fragile as you age. Australia has lots of sunny weather, but it also has one of the highest rates of skin cancer in the world.
The good news is that there are simple steps you can take to stay safe in the sun. Keep reading for practical information to protect your skin while enjoying the outdoors.
What is UV?
Before we look at the simple steps to stay sun safe, it helps to understand what UV is. UV is short for ultraviolet radiation. It's the main cause of the sun's harmful effects, including skin cancers. In most cases, UV levels are highest in the middle of the day.
You're not only at risk of UV when it's hot and sunny outside. UV can be at high, harmful levels even when clouds are blocking the sun.
UV can also reflect off surfaces like water, concrete, and snow. You should use sun protection when the UV level is 3 or above on the UV index.
Keep track of UV levels with the SunSmart app
By keeping track of UV levels and using sun protection, you can go outdoors to work, rest, and do what you love while staying safe.
You can use the free SunSmart Global UV app to keep track of UV levels. It's available for download from the Apple Store and Google Play app:
This article lists some other mobile apps that could make your life easier.
5 simple steps for staying sun safe
UV levels can reach harmful levels regardless of the season. Follow these five tips to look after your skin year-round.
1. Wear protective clothing
Protective clothing is your first line of defence against UV. Make sure your clothes aren't thin, faded, or damaged and are covering as much skin as possible.
