HOW MUCH SUN DO YOU NEED?

It doesn’t take much sun exposure to reap its health benefits. For most people, 10 to 30 minutes outdoors without sunscreen several times a week should do it. The darker your skin tone and the farther you live from the equator, the more time you need. Conversely, the more skin you expose to the sun, the less time you’ll need.

But keep an eye on the UV index (see epa.gov/sunsafety/uv-index-1).

It’s an estimate of the amount of UV radiation you’ll be exposed to in your ZIP code, as calculated daily by the National Weather Service. You are generally fine when the index is 2 or below. When it hits 3 (or if you are planning to be outdoors for more than 30 minutes), wear a hat or other covering or sunscreen. People who are sensitive to UV rays should use protection more often.