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Science 22 Jun 2026

What are UV levels and how can you protect yourself?

Some UV exposure is essential for our wellbeing, but too much is damaging and can cause skin cancer.

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Some UV exposure is essential for our wellbeing, but too much is damaging and can cause skin cancer. As a period of extreme heat is forecast across the UK this week, UV levels are expected to be high in many areas. Some exposure to UV is essential for our wellbeing, but too much is damaging and can cause skin cancer. UV radiation is emitted by the Sun and penetrates the Earth's atmosphere. It can lead to skin cancer by damaging DNA in skin cells. UV also plays a substantial role in skin ageing, contributing to wrinkles and loosened folds. "Every exposure to UV, especially every sunburn, increases our risk of skin cancer," says Prof Dorothy Bennett, from St George's, University of London. "Melanoma, the most dangerous skin cancer, is now the fifth commonest cancer in the UK." UK's hottest May day record broken for second day in a row Why temperature records are being not only broken but smashed Levels of UV radiation vary throughout the day. The UV Index (or UVI) is a measure of ultraviolet radiation used around the world. In the UK, the UV index would typically be around 5-6 during the summer, with a maximum of 8 only in exceptional circumstances. Countries close to the equator can experience very high UV levels in the middle of the day, throughout the year.

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