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Burning time

Burning time is the maximum time to stay unprotected without receiving sunburn. This is calculated from the UV energy equivalent of 1 MED as the basis.
MED: Minimal Erythemal Dose - Is the effective UV dose that causes a perceptible minimum reddening/tanning of previously unexposed human skin. The exact energy equivalent differs by a factor of 2 depending upon individual sunburn sensitivity.
Each value given in each of the categories represents an approximate mid-point value for a range. In the monthly solar reports the sensitive group appropriate to Category 1 is used with a MED of 200 J m-2 effective.

What Skin Type Are You?
Category People covered Approximate MED
Category 1: (burners) most UK indigenous groups < 300 J m-2 effective
Category 2: (tanners) mostly non-UK indigenous and non-naturally pigmented groups 600 J m-2 effective
Category 3: (naturally brown) mostly Asian and middle and south American groups 800 J m-2 effective
Category 4: (naturally black) African and Caribbean groups 1000 J m-2 effective
Forecast maps