To see how strong the sun is shining and how harmful it is, there is the UV Index. The higher the radiation level, the more likely it is to burn. The index can be found on the RMI website, but also on apps such as “UV Index Widget” or “UVLens” or in the weather app on your smartphone. And it seems to be popular with younger people, says dermatologist Thomas Massilis. Teenagers are the biggest burners and they know that. They monitor their skin very closely, and I notice this in practice. Sunscreen used to be about being able to lie in the sun for hours, and now there’s a new mentality to protect the body.”
But how useful are these UV Index apps? “Most of the applications are based on measurement points in Belgium, from RMI or local measurement points, so they are very accurate,” continues Maselis. “From index 3 you have to protect your skin, from index 5 it is very recommended, from index 7 it is essential and you should avoid around noon. You will notice that the UV index is low in the morning, rises sharply between 10 and 11 am and is Its peak is until 3 p.m., when the sun is at its zenith. Then it goes down again.” At index 4, a person with skin type 2 – the most common in our area – can burn within 30 to 60 minutes during sunny periods. With a UV index of more than 5, this can be done in 20 to 40 minutes. UV Index is expected from 6 to 7 PM in the coming days.
“Friendly communicator. Music trailblazer. Internet maven. Twitter buff. Social mediaholic.”
More Stories
Candice Martens tells all about second date: 'Jilted'
This is how Kate Upton looked when she was 19 years old without a shirt (video)
Eddie Blankart suffers from health problems: “It could end fatally”