{"id":6211,"date":"2011-11-15T10:19:26","date_gmt":"2011-11-15T09:19:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/"},"modified":"2026-10-17T10:44:49","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T09:44:49","slug":"uv-index","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-prevention\/uv-index\/","title":{"rendered":"UV index: how to read it and protect yourself"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"im26-diagnosis-guide\">\n<nav class=\"im26-dg-toc\" aria-label=\"On this page\"><strong>On this page<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><a href=\"#prev-indice\">What the UV index measures<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#prev-scala\">The scale: low to extreme<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#prev-variazioni\">Season, clouds, altitude and reflective surfaces<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#prev-minuti\">Why not calculate \u201csafe\u201d minutes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-section\" id=\"prev-indice\">\n<h2>What the UV index measures<\/h2>\n<p>The UV index expresses the intensity of solar ultraviolet radiation at the Earth&#8217;s surface, weighted for its ability to cause sunburn. It is an international risk-communication tool, not a thermometer or a measure of perceived brightness. Higher values mean greater potential for harm during unprotected exposure.<\/p>\n<p>Forecasts may show the expected daily maximum or hourly values: check which information you are reading. The daily maximum does not remain constant from sunrise to sunset. The index does not automatically account for your medicines, skin sensitivity or time already spent in the sun.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-section\" id=\"prev-scala\">\n<h2>The scale: low to extreme<\/h2>\n<p>0\u20132, low. Risk is generally limited during ordinary exposure, but \u201clow\u201d does not mean absent. Prolonged exposure, snow, high altitude or particular photosensitivity may require precautions even at these values.<\/p>\n<p>3\u20135, moderate. This is already the level at which WHO recommends protection: seek shade around midday, cover the skin and apply sunscreen to uncovered areas. Describing it simply as \u201clittle risk\u201d can lead to underestimating a day outdoors.<\/p>\n<p>6\u20137, high. Increase protection and reduce time in direct sunlight around solar noon. A hat, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-prevention\/sunglasses-and-skin-protection\/\">sunglasses<\/a> and clothing help protect frequently overlooked areas.<\/p>\n<p>8\u201310, very high. Take particular care: favour shaded or indoor activities during peak hours, especially for children. Sunscreen alone is not sufficient for prolonged exposure.<\/p>\n<p>11 and above, extreme. Avoid direct exposure during peak hours and organise activities to minimise it. The scale does not stop at 11: the plus sign indicates that higher values can occur.<\/p>\n<div class=\"im26-risk-table\" role=\"region\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"UV index scale\">\n<table>\n<caption>UV index and protection: practical guidance, not a safe-minutes calculator.<\/caption>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"col\">UV<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Level<\/th>\n<th scope=\"col\">Action<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\">0\u20132<\/th>\n<td>Low<\/td>\n<td>Consider duration and individual circumstances.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\">3\u20135<\/th>\n<td>Moderate<\/td>\n<td>Protection already needed: shade, clothes, hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\">6\u20137<\/th>\n<td>High<\/td>\n<td>Reduce direct sun exposure around midday.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\">8\u201310<\/th>\n<td>Very high<\/td>\n<td>Prefer shade or indoor settings during peak hours.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th scope=\"row\">11+<\/th>\n<td>Extreme<\/td>\n<td>Avoid direct sunlight during peak hours.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-section\" id=\"prev-variazioni\">\n<h2>Season, clouds, altitude and reflective surfaces<\/h2>\n<p>The index varies with time, season, latitude, altitude and atmospheric conditions. Clouds do not necessarily block all radiation; snow and other surfaces can increase received exposure. Cool air and wind may make sunlight feel less uncomfortable without making it less harmful.<\/p>\n<p>Use an updated local forecast and check hourly changes when planning sport, work or activities with children. A value for a distant city or a different day does not describe current exposure. Index guidance needs to be combined with practical <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-prevention\/sun-protection\/\">sun protection<\/a> and the duration of the activity.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-section\" id=\"prev-minuti\">\n<h2>Why not calculate \u201csafe\u201d minutes<\/h2>\n<p>Charts converting UV index and phototype into minutes before sunburn can create false precision. Individual responses vary, and the absence of redness does not exclude damage. The old minutes-to-damage chart has therefore been replaced by behavioural guidance, rather than used as a countdown for staying in sunlight.<\/p>\n<p>The same applies to SPF: do not multiply an assumed tolerance time by the sunscreen factor. Use the index to decide when and how to protect yourself, not to test your skin&#8217;s limits. If you have a photosensitive condition or take medicines that increase sensitivity, agree specific precautions with your clinician.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<aside class=\"im26-dg-related\">\n<h2>Continue reading<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-prevention\/\">Melanoma prevention<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-prevention\/sun-protection\/\">Sun protection for adults and children<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-prevention\/creme-protettive-solari\/\">Sunscreens: choosing and using them<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-prevention\/anti-uv-clothing-protect-yourself-with-anti-uv-clothings-and-hats\/\">UV-protective clothing and hats<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-prevention\/sunglasses-and-skin-protection\/\">Sunglasses and UV protection<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ilmelanoma.com\/en\/melanoma\/melanoma-prevention\/who-report-on-uv-radiation\/\">UV radiation and melanoma: WHO report and IARC data<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<section class=\"im26-dg-sources\">\n<h2>Sources and update<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/publications\/i\/item\/9241590076\">WHO \u2014 Global Solar UV Index: a practical guide<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/news-room\/fact-sheets\/detail\/ultraviolet-radiation\">WHO \u2014 Ultraviolet radiation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aad.org\/media\/stats-sunscreen\">American Academy of Dermatology \u2014 Sunscreen FAQs<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Editorial revision: 17 October 2026. Educational information that does not replace medical assessment.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The international UV index scale and the actions to take: radiation intensity matters, not how warm you feel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"parent":5638,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6211","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.8 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>UV index<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The UV index is an international standard measure of the intensity of solar radiation. 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