Sunbathing is the national sport of the Costa del Sol. However, the sun is not always your friend. It sends out ultraviolet radiation that is invisible to the human eye. This radiation is what gives you a tan or a very painful red glow. Measuring this invisible force is the only way to know if you are about to get a healthy glow or a medical bill. It is a battle between your skin cells and a giant ball of fire in space.
Measuring the invisible rays
In the past, measuring UV radiation was a slow and clunky process. Scientists used chemical actinometers which relied on how fast certain chemicals changed when exposed to light. It was not exactly something you could check on your phone before heading to the beach. Today, we use high-tech digital sensors and radiometers. these devices can calculate the UV index in real time. They look at the specific wavelengths that cause skin damage. It is much more accurate than just licking your finger and holding it in the wind.
The five levels of danger
Spain uses a very clear five level scale to tell you how worried you should be. Levels one and two are considered low. You can probably survive a walk to the shops without turning into a lobster. Levels three, four, and five are medium. This is where you should start taking things seriously. Levels six and seven are high. This is the point where the sun stops being a friend and starts being a bully.
When the scale goes extreme
Once you hit levels eight, nine, and ten, the situation is very high. You will burn in a matter of minutes if you are not careful. Level eleven is the boss fight of sunbathing and is labelled as extreme. This scaling is actually a global standard set by the World Health Organisation. It is not just a Spanish invention to sell more sun cream. The colours and numbers are the same whether you are in Malaga or Sydney. This makes it easier for tourists to understand exactly how much trouble they are in.
Why your skin hates the sun
UV radiation is dangerous because it literally breaks your DNA. The rays penetrate your skin and cause mutations in your cells. This is why it causes dermatological issues like premature ageing and wrinkles. Your skin loses its elasticity and starts to look like an old leather handbag. In worse cases, these mutations lead to skin cancer. Your body tries to protect itself by producing melanin which is what creates a tan. A tan is basically your skin screaming for help.
The traffic lights of Fuengirola
In the city of Fuengirola, they have a very practical way of showing the danger. There is a measurement tool that looks like a fancy traffic light. It has a light detector on top and a simple coloured display below. It tells you the current UV level and shows an explanatory table. Some people might think it looks a bit old fashioned in the age of smartphones. However, it is brilliantly effective. You do not need to unlock your phone with greasy sun cream fingers to see the risk.
Simple but very effective
These traffic light devices are not used everywhere. They are quite unique to certain tourist hotspots that care about their visitors’ health. While a digital app gives you a forecast, this device gives you the truth in that exact spot. It works brilliantly because it catches your eye while you are walking toward the waves. It is a low tech solution for a high tech problem. It reminds everyone that the sun does not care about your holiday photos. It only cares about cooking you.
