The ultraviolet (UV) index in Ho Chi Minh City is forecast to be “extreme” this week as a dermatologist has cautioned against going outside at noon.

The UV level hit nine in Ho Chi Minh City at noon on Wednesday, according to the UK-based meteorological services website WeatherOnline.

A UV index reading of 8-10 means a “very high” risk of harm from unprotected sun exposure, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Twenty-five minutes of being exposed to sunlight with this level of UV radiation can cause sunburn, the organization cautioned.

On Thursday and Friday, the UV index in the Ho Chi Minh City is forecast to reach 11, which carries an “extreme” health risk.

At this level of UV radiation, unprotected skin and eyes can burn in ten minutes, according to the WHO.

From Sunday until Wednesday next week, a similarly harmful level of UV is expected to be recorded in the southern metropolis, according to WeatherOnline.

Dr. Le Duc Tho, a dermatologist, told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper UV radiation is harmful and can cause a number of skin conditions including hyperpigmentation, skin aging, sunburn, and skin cancer, as well as eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration.

At the current level of UV radiation in Ho Chi Minh City, residents are advised against being in the sun between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm.

Wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats, and clothes that expose little skin is advised for those going outdoors during this time frame, Dr. Tho said.

Children must take extra precautions against sun exposure to limit the long-term accumulation of risks from UV radiation, he said.

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