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Getting a golden tan is a goal for many travellers. However, a tan is not a sign of health - it is a visible sign of damage and shows that your skin has been harmed by the sun. This can lead to wrinkles, skin ageing and cancer.
In mild countries like Britain, UV levels change between winter and summer. In regions near the equator, such as parts of Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, the Middle-East, and Central and South America, levels are high all year, because sunlight has a shorter distance to travel to reach earth.
Clouds have less effect on UV levels than on temperature. They absorb heat better, so you can still get burnt on cloudy days. A cool wind gives false reassurance, as UV levels can still be high. UV levels also increase at high altitude, and snow, sand and rough or rippling water reflect UV rays, increasing your risk of burning. Most UV rays enter the skin and pass into tissues. This radiation is then absorbed and can damage our DNA (our genetic information) and can cause skin cancer.