The sun’s rays can warm well already from Easter. Unfortunately, the sun can also damage your skin. Sometimes there is high UV radiation. Also in Norway. Then you should take breaks from the sun and protect yourself with clothing or sunscreen.
– The UV radiation from the sun can be strong enough to cause damage regardless of where you are in Norway.
That’s what Lill Tove Nilsen tells. She is specialist director in the Directorate for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety.
It is during the period from around Easter and over the summer that the radiation is strong, also in Norway. And although it is further south that the UV radiation is strongest, and in the time around St. Hans, you should also protect your skin during Easter. Not least if you are in places with snow.
– Snow reflects sunlight very effectively. Then you get extra radiation coming in from all sides, she says to Klar Tale.
There is a separate UV index. The number is a measure of how strong the UV radiation is. You can find such an index for the area you are in, for example at yr.no.
The index starts at 0, which is very low radiation. If there is UV radiation of 11 or more, the radiation is extreme. You will find it in more southern regions.
– You should protect your skin with sunscreen, clothing or go somewhere with shade if the UV index is 3 or higher, advises Nilsen.
– The higher the UV, the easier it is to get sunburned.
And you can get sunburned no matter how light or dark your skin is. Although those with fair skin are more sensitive to getting sunburned. Sun protection is therefore important.
In addition, UV radiation can in the worst case cause skin and eye damage, and skin cancer.
In Norway, skin cancer is the fourth largest form of cancer in Norway for both sexes, according to the Cancer Registry. There were 3,061 new cases of skin cancer registered in 2022.
According to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI), UV radiation from the sun and solariums is the most important cause of skin cancer. It is one of the forms of cancer that has increased the most in Norway in the last ten years. Norway is also among the countries in the world where most people get mole cancer, and do not survive.
