The UV Index Will Save Your Skin At Home Or Abroad

While most of us are careful to slather on sunscreen before a day at the beach, we’re admittedly less vigilant day to day. Check the UV Index and its guidelines to ensure you’re properly protected, wherever you are in the world.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) UV Index is designed to indicate the level of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in a specific location on any given day. It’s measured on a scale starting at one (low) and ending at 11 or more (extreme) based on the amount of UV radiation reaching ground level, the forecasted amount of cloud cover and the elevation of the ground (because the closer you are to the sun, the greater the exposure, naturally).

How do UV rays affect the skin?

There are two types of UV rays to be concerned about: UVB, the shortwave type that causes the skin to redden and burn, and plays a central role in the development of skin cancers; and UVA, whose longwave rays tan the skin and contribute to ageing.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, UVA is 30 to 50 times more prevalent than UVB at the Earth’s surface, and accounts for up to 95 percent of UV rays at ground level. UVA rays can also penetrate windows and clouds and, unlike UVB, their presence and intensity isn’t determined by the season, which is why it’s smart to wear sunscreen year-round.

Being at high altitude increases your exposure to UV light

What are the best ways to protect the skin from UV damage?

The UV Index also comes with recommendations for how best to prevent sun damage. Mostly, it’s the usual advice—stay out of the sun between the hours of 10am and 4pm, apply SPF 30 liberally and frequently, and wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat.

For more personalized information, use this sunburn map. It allows you to enter your location and skin tone, then uses the UV Index to predict how long you can spend in the sun without protection before burning.

The tool appears to be geared more towards Caucasian skin—the tone that burns fastest and most intensely. However, while deeper complexions have more natural protection against UV damage (thanks to higher levels of the pigment melanin), it doesn’t mean the darker-skinned among us won’t burn or develop skin cancer. In fact, studies show that people of color are often diagnosed with skin cancer later than paler individuals, resulting in lower survival rates.

Download the EPA’s SunWise UV Index app and get into the habit of checking it in the morning, just like you would the weather. Thanks to GPS it’ll give you a consistently accurate reading, whether you’re on vacation or at home.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.