Understanding when to use sun protection is crucial for maintaining healthy skin. It’s not just about preventing sunburn but also about protecting your skin from long-term damage and reducing the risk of skin cancer and premature aging. However, navigating the complexities of sun protection can be challenging, especially when many people might not consistently check the UV Index.
To simplify this, we’ve provided a comprehensive guide to the UV Index in Europe throughout the year. This guide will help you understand UV radiation levels by season and region, making it easier to determine when to use sun protection.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how to use the UV Index to make informed decisions about sun exposure, and offer practical tips for effective sun protection. Whether you’re planning outdoor activities or just looking to improve your daily skincare routine, this guide will equip you with the knowledge needed to keep your skin safe and healthy all year round.
Use Sun protection following the UV Index
The UV Index is a measure of the level of UV radiation. It’s values range from zero upward – the higher the UV Index, the greater the potential for damage to the skin and eyes, and the less time it takes for harm to occur. It helps individuals make healthy choices, like wearing sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat. (World Health Organisation).
The Environmental Protection Agency is detailing how the UV Index is derived, if you would like to know more.
You should use Sun protection every time the UV Index is forecast to reach 3 or higher. It is as simple as finding out the UV Index value in your location (see chapter below), and follow the sun protection instructions shown in Figure 1 below.
Skin cancer patients should follow the instructions from their health provider and may have to wear sun protection even when the UV Index is below 3.
Figure 1: UV radiation exposure categories and recommended sun protection scheme. Courtesy of the International commission on non-ionizing radiation protection.
Sunlight penetration
- UV transmission through clouds:
- clear skies – 100%
- scattered clouds – 89%
- broken clouds – 73%
- overcast skies – 31%
- UV transmission through glass:
- clear glass – 90% of Visible Light, 72% of UV, and 83% of solar heat
- tinted or reflective glass transmits less Visible Light, UV, and Infrared radiation
- all types of glass block transmission of UVB
- UV transmission through sunglasses:
- darkly tinted sunglasses may block UVA and Visible Light but can obscure vision
- blue lenses absorb Visible Light between 400–500 nm
- orange and yellow lenses provide the best protection against both UV and Visible Light.
- Wide-brimmed hats may offer an SPF of up to 7.
The UV Index and UVA/UVB
The UV Index does take into account both UVA and UVB radiation, but it is primarily weighted towards UVB radiation, which is more responsible for causing sunburn. This is the reason why even when the UV Index is low or 0, UVA radiation can still be present.
UVA radiation is present throughout the year, regardless of the season, making it a significant contributor to long-term skin damage and aging, as well as enhanced skin cancer development. Unlike UVB radiation, which varies more significantly based on factors like time of day, season, and location, UVA radiation remains relatively constant. However, UVA levels can still vary depending on factors such as altitude, latitude, and atmospheric conditions. It can also penetrate cloud cover and glass, making it present even on cloudy days and indoors near windows.
If you want to protect yourself from UVA radiation, wearing a sunscreen all year around is recommended.
Find out the UV Index for your location
The SunSmart Global UV app provides a UV and weather five-day forecasts at searchable locations, highlighting time slots when UV radiation will peak.
The SunSmart UV global app is:
- using the UV Index to help you make informed decisions about Sun protection
- makes it easy for you to maintain safe levels of UV exposure by checking the UV index at your location at any time.
- sources its UV information from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service.
SunSmart is launched by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO).
The app is available for download for both Apple and Android users and is accessible in Chinese, English, French, Russian, Dutch and Spanish.
What UV Index to expect in Europe
The study “UV-Index Climatology for Europe Based on Satellite Data” (R. Vitt et al. 2020) offers valuable insights into the variations of the UV Index across the European region from 1983 to 2015. Through meticulous analysis, the study presents a comprehensive overview of the monthly mean UV Index through detailed maps (Figure 2).
As an individual living in Europe, you can use these maps to understand what to anticipate in terms of the UV Index in your respective region each month.
By factoring in variables such as how high the Sun is in the sky, cloud cover, and altitude, the study ensures a nuanced depiction of the UV Index, showing how it varies across different times and places in Europe. Whether it’s assessing the UV intensity in coastal areas or mountainous regions, these maps offer you an invaluable tool for informed decision-making regarding Sun exposure and protection strategies throughout the year.
period 1983–2015 based on satellite data. (after UV-Index Climatology for Europe Based on Satellite Data)
When to use sunscreen in Europe
Due to our latitude, we get very little UVB between November and February as shown on the maps above. I advise using the Sun Smart Global App for sun protection advise in your area. In the spring and summer, however, it is worthwhile using sunscreen after your regular moisturizer following Sun Smart Global App advice. If you also want to protect yourself from UVA radiation, I recommend using a regular sunscreen, make-up or moisturizer with UVA protection in winter too.
Many cosmetic products such as moisturizer and foundation have SPF added to them and there is often confusion about whether this is enough or an extra sunscreen should also be used.
The truth is that most of us do not use enough of our cosmetic product to achieve the same SPF as a sunscreen alone. Therefore, I would recommend using regular sunscreen between March and October .
However, if you are regularly using chemical exfoliating products, or you are using a retinoid like tretinoin or retinol during winter, you are better off with a regular sunscreen.
Similarly, if you participate in outdoor sports or work and are likely to be outside for longer than twenty minutes or so at a time you should wear daily sun protection.
References
European Commission and Copernicus – Europe’s Eyes on Earth. SunSmart Global UV App. Retrieved from https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu/sunsmart-global-uv-app
Fu, V., & Lu, G. (2021). Skincare Decoded. Publisher Weldon Owen.
R. Vitt, G. Laschewski, A. F. Bais, H. Diémoz, I. Fountoulaki, A. Siani, A. Matzarakis (8 July 2020). UV-Index Climatology for Europe Based on Satellite Data. Retrieved from https://www.semanticscholar.org/reader/0a6707035a975d5e8a78c6f31a14b8b878e8620f
World Health Organisation (9 March, 2016). Radiation: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-ultraviolet-(uv)
World Health Organisation (20 June, 2022). Radiation: The ultraviolet (UV) index. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index