Latest news with #UVindex
CNET
30-07-2025
- Health
- CNET
How to Track Your Sun Exposure With This New App
Facing down a heat wave this summer? There's a new beta app for iPhones from the founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, that helps you track your exposure to the sun. The Sun Day app is free to testers and contains information like sunrise, sunset and UV index in order to assess your potential burn-limit time and, as the app description says, "track your Vitamin D from the sun." Dorsey is currently testing UI updates and a solar noon notification, according to the app notes. In the app, you can describe the type of clothing you're wearing, such as shorts and T-shirts or swimwear, and your Fitzpatrick skin type, which classifies how quickly you'll burn. The iOS app asks permission to connect to some Apple Health data when the app is installed. Dorsey also recently released Bitchat, a private messaging client that uses Bluetooth as its communication platform. Although it's meant to be a secure, private app, some users have flagged Bitchat for potential security flaws that are still being tested. How to test the Sun Day app If you've got an iOS device, download the Sun Day TestFlight app from the App Store and then follow the link to the app for Sun Day to join the beta test. The effectiveness of an app such as Sun Day depends on giving it accurate information about your skin type and clothing, and while vitamin D levels are one way to gauge UV exposure, it's not foolproof given that some people also take vitamin D supplements. "Jack Dorsey's new app Sun Day is exciting, not to detect vitamin D levels but really to help us understand our UV index which is so important in sun safety," said Tanya Kormeili, an LA-based dermatologist. "The app does have an interesting promise as far as I am concerned, in that using the UV index can show you the risk for the level of UV exposure." The risks of too much sun exposure include sunburns, aging skin and skin cancer. Tracking UV levels is one way to help mitigate those risks. People tend to think about sun exposure and protections like sunscreen most during the summer, when the sun is strongest and the days are long, and when you're heading to the beach or out gardening, golfing or otherwise getting in quality sun time. But there is always a risk of sun damage to your skin while you're outside -- year round. "Sometimes it is hard for patients to be convinced that there can be an excessive UV risk on a cloudy day," Kormeili says. "The app would provide an objective measure of that UV index and guide you in safer sun practices." The dermatologist suggests that Dorsey putting the app out for public consumption without medical experts endorsing it might be a missed opportunity. "I am surprised that they have not involved actual dermatologists in pointing out the true value and limitations of this app," she said.
CNET
23-07-2025
- Health
- CNET
You Can Track Your Sun Exposure With This New App. Here's How to Do It
If you're facing down the heat wave this summer, there's a new beta app for iPhones from the founder of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, for tracking your exposure to the sun. The Sun Day app is free to testers and so far contains information like sunrise, sunset and UV index in order to assess your potential burn-limit time and, as the app description says, "track your Vitamin D from the sun." Dorsey is currently testing UI updates and a solar noon notification, according to the app notes. In the app, you can describe the type of clothing you're wearing, such as shorts and T-shirts or swimwear, and your Fitzpatrick skin type, which classifies how quickly you'll burn. The iOS app asks permission to connect to some Apple Health data when the app is installed. Dorsey also recently released Bitchat, a private messaging client that uses Bluetooth as its communication platform. Although it's meant to be a secure, private app, some users have flagged Bitchat for potential security flaws that are still being tested. How to try out Sun Day For iOS users, using Sun Day involves downloading the TestFlight app from the App Store and then following the link to the app for Sun Day to join the beta test. The effectiveness of an app such as Sun Day depends on giving it accurate information about your skin type and clothing, and while vitamin D levels are one way to gauge UV exposure, it's not foolproof given that some people also take vitamin D supplements. "Jack Dorsey's new app Sun Day is exciting, not to detect vitamin D levels but really to help us understand our UV index which is so important in sun safety," said Tanya Kormeili, an LA-based dermatologist. "The app does have an interesting promise as far as I am concerned, in that using the UV index can show you the risk for the level of UV exposure." The risks of too much sun exposure include sunburns, aging skin and skin cancer. Tracking UV levels is one way to help mitigate those risks. People tend to think about sun exposure and protections like sunscreen most during the summer, when the sun is strongest and the days are long, and when you're heading to the beach or out gardening, golfing or otherwise getting in quality sun time. But there is always a risk of sun damage to your skin while you're outside -- year round. "Sometimes it is hard for patients to be convinced that there can be an excessive UV risk on a cloudy day," Kormeili says. "The app would provide an objective measure of that UV index and guide you in safer sun practices." The dermatologist suggests that Dorsey putting the app out for public consumption without medical experts endorsing it might be a missed opportunity. "I am surprised that they have not involved actual dermatologists in pointing out the true value and limitations of this app," she said.
CBS News
21-07-2025
- Health
- CBS News
TikTok trend tracking UV index for tanning is "alarming," dermatologist says
On sunny or even cloudy days, the UV index can be a good thing to check. "It's five, moderate. But you're still supposed to use sun protection it says," explained Claira Wright, a University of Minnesota sophomore as she checked her phone. But many Gen Z-ers aren't using the index to avoid peak UV hours — they're tracking them for tanning. "It's incredibly alarming. They're using it to optimize the amount of time they need to spend sun tanning and getting as dark as possible," said Dr. Cynthia Nicholson, a pediatric dermatologist with M Health Fairview. A recent survey by the American Academy of Dermatology says 67% of Americans report getting tan or darker skin in 2024, up from 54% in 2020. "We know that the early sun exposure that you get early in life, even before 20 or so, increases our risk quite dramatically of developing a skin cancer," said Nicholson. The UV index measures the intensity of ultraviolet radiation from the sun on a scale of 0 to 11. The higher the number, the higher the risk of UV exposure, Nicholson says. When the UV index is low, she says it's still a good idea to wear sunscreen. Between 3 and 7, sunglasses, hats, and a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher are needed to help protect you. At the very high or extreme levels, more action is needed. "If you're looking at nine to 11-plus you really shouldn't even be outside," said Nicholson. Wright's friends often tan when the UV level is nine or higher. "And I usually go with my friends. Some of my friends don't use SPF but I'm always the one using SPF," said Wright. While social media trends eventually disappear, the effects of sun damage can last a lifetime.
CTV News
21-07-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Sunny and slightly cooler than average in Ottawa on Monday
It will be a bright, sunny day in the nation's capital this Monday, but the temperature will sit a bit below the seasonal norm. Environment Canada's weather forecast for the city calls for a high of 22 C, about five degrees cooler than the usual high for this time of year. The UV index is 8, or very high. Overnight, the sky will be clear, and the temperature is expected to drop to a single-digit low of 9 C, about seven degrees cooler than normal. Tuesday's forecast is sunny with a high of 24 C and a humidex of 28. A few clouds move in Wednesday, with a high of 27 C.
Fast Company
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Fast Company
Jack Dorsey's new Sun Day app tells you exactly how long to tan before you burn
Twitter cofounder Jack Dorsey is back with a new app that tracks sun exposure and vitamin D levels. Sun Day uses location-based data to show the current UV index, the day's high, and additional details like cloud cover, sunrise, and sunset times. Users can choose their skin type from six options and indicate their clothing, such as 'light (shorts & t-shirt)', then manually toggle when they're in or out of the sun. Based on this input, the app calculates how long you can safely expose your skin before it begins to burn. That's an especially helpful feature for those like Dorsey, who mentioned in an X thread that he does not actually use sunscreen. no — jack (@jack) July 13, 2025 The app also tracks a user's estimated vitamin D intake while outdoors. After tapping the 'Track UV exposure' button to start a session, the app shows how much vitamin D was absorbed once the session ends. In future updates, additional factors like height, weight, and actual vitamin D blood levels may be included to improve the app's accuracy. This marks the second new app Dorsey has launched in a week. But this one may especially appeal to Gen Z, whose tanning obsession has sparked a trend of tracking UV exposure to optimize time spent basking in the sun. In 2025, the importance of sunscreen isn't lost on most. Google searches for 'best anti-ageing sunscreen' and 'UV damage prevention' have more than doubled over the past two years. Yet on TikTok and Instagram, tanning is back in vogue. Girls flaunt their bikini strap marks, share their tanning routines, and even create sun tattoos (aka skin damage). Some are faking it using blush, bronzer, or spray tans to mimic the sunkissed, or sunburnt, look. Others track the UV index to find the 'best' time to tan.
