Yes, you can still get sunburnt in the UK in April, even on cool overcast days. The damage to your skin caused by sunburn is due to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, not temperature. This means that despite feeling cool, the UV could be high enough to cause burning on a spring day.
Temperature and UV Are Different Things
Remember that air temperature and UV index are two different measures. While air temperature tells you how warm the air is near to the ground, UV index measures the UV from the sun. It can remain high on very clear days and drop sharply on cloudy days. Sometimes the UV can be higher than you would expect from the weather.
Why Spring UV Catches People Out
While in winter the ozone layer above the UK is more concentrated than in summer, in spring it thins again, which allows more UV radiation to pass through to the Earth’s surface. At the same time the sun is climbing higher in the sky after the equinox and our days are getting longer. So, while it may still feel cool enough to wear a jumper in the spring, the increased amount of UV radiation reaching the ground can cause serious burns to skin. The Met Office website explains how UV levels are measured in the UK and describes the increase in UV levels in April and May as sharper than the increase in temperature.
UK UV Levels Through the Year
A rough guide to the average UV index (for a clear day at midday) throughout the year for the UK is as follows: January: around 1 to 2 February: around 2 March: around 3 April: around 4 to 5 May: around 5 to 6 June: around 6 to 7 July: around 6 to 7
If we consider a UV index of 3 and above to cause skin to burn within a few hours of exposure, then with clear days in April experiencing a UV index of 4-5 in the midday sun, it is very important to take precautions to prevent burning.
The NHS Rule of Thumb
The NHS provides useful information regarding sunburn, its symptoms and how to treat it. It is worth noting how quickly skin can burn and become sore within a few hours of exposure to too much UV. Remember the NHS Rule of Thumb regarding sunburn: When the UV index reaches 3 or above on a weather forecast, whether it feels hot or not, take extra protection when going out and about during the day. This information can be found on most weather apps and on the Met Office website, as part of the general forecast for temperature and wind, and as a special forecast for UV.
Who’s Most at Risk in April
Fair skinned people are most likely to burn, but any person spending time outdoors during the strongest UV hours of the day between 11am and 3pm can get burned in April, whether they are a gardener, dog walker, cyclist or just out for a lunchtime stroll. The back of neck, tops of ears and even the scalp at the parting of the hair are typical areas for people to get burned as they often are forgotten when applying sunscreen.
Protecting Your Skin in April
Protect yourself from the sun in April by: Using sunscreens with SPF30 or higher and 4-star UVA protection. See product labelling on general sun care ranges on sale in stores such as Boots for explanation of SPF and star ratings. Taking shade between 11am and 3pm. Covering up with clothing on neck, shoulders and other areas that would normally be protected by sunscreen in these types of garments. Wearing sunglasses which block all UV. Reapplying sunscreen after sweating, swimming or wiping hands and face.
Cloud Doesn’t Block Most UV
UV radiation can pass through clouds, which is why it’s not always the case that the sky being overcast means there’s no risk of damage to skin. The amount of cloud does affect the amount of UV radiation that can pass through it, but on hazy days or when the sky is thick with thin clouds the amount of UV that does pass through can be high. This is why people are often surprised to get burned on apparently overcast days in April.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The temperature of the air does not indicate the strength of the sun’s rays. Always check the UV index forecast before you go out.
Mistake 3 – Believing that you can skip using sun cream on cloudy days as cloud only scatters some of the UV radiation and most still passes through on hazy days.
Using sun cream with an SPF lower than 30 or UVA protection of less than 4 stars. The amount of damage caused to skin by UV will be greater than the protection that you have given to it.
Many people forget that the time when the highest amount of damage is done to your skin by the sun’s rays starts in March. As soon as the temperature rises, people start to slather on the sun cream but often it is too late.
So make sure to check out the UV forecast for your local area and treat all days with a UV reading of 3 or above as if it is going to be hot and cover up.
