Be SkinCare Aware 

We are so used to running for cover when we hear a rumble of thunder during the summer that it’s easy to forget that we are just as exposed to the elements under a beautiful, cloud-free sky. Whenever the sun's out (and even when it isn't), we are at risk of skin damage which is caused by the sun's ultraviolet, or UV, radiation. But just how serious is that risk on any given day?

The actual dose of UV radiation you get outdoors depends on a number of factors, including:

• Geographic location UV exposure is greater in tropical areas near the earth's equator. The farther you are from the equator, the smaller your risk.

• Altitude UV exposure is greater at higher altitudes.

• Time of day UV exposure is greater when the sun is high in the sky, typically from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Setting UV exposure generally is greater in wide open spaces, especially when highly reflective surfaces are present, like snow and sand. In fact, UV exposure can nearly double when UV rays are reflected from the snow. UV exposure is less likely in urban settings, where tall buildings shade the streets.

• Medications Certain medications, such as tetracycline, sulfa drugs, birth control pills, diuretics and tranquilisers, can increase your body's sensitivity to UV radiation.

The CarePlus App and website have launched an index that is compiled daily with UV updates. The UV Index tells us the level of UV radiation that is expected at the earth’s surface. It is a scale that runs from zero upwards. The higher the level the less time it takes the skin to burn and the greater the risk of skin damage which can lead to skin cancer.

All readings are sourced by Met Éireann’s weather forecast. Download the CarePlus App today for free from the App Store or Google Play. 

For more information and offers on skin smart products call into your local CarePlus Pharmacy