Track Your Sun Exposure with the New Sun Day App
As summer heat waves approach, there’s exciting news for iPhone users: Jack Dorsey, the founder of Twitter, has launched a beta app called Sun Day. This app is designed to help you track your sun exposure by providing crucial data such as sunrise and sunset times, along with the UV index. It’s free for testers and aims to help you assess your potential burn-limit time and monitor your vitamin D levels.
The Sun Day app collects user input on clothing types, like shorts or swimwear, as well as Fitzpatrick skin types, which categorize how quickly different skin types tan or burn. Dorsey is actively refining the app’s user interface, and users will soon benefit from notifications related to solar noon.
Getting Started with the Sun Day App
To test the app, simply download it via TestFlight from the App Store and follow the link to join the beta program. The effectiveness of Sun Day hinges on the accuracy of the information you provide about your skin type and clothing. While tracking vitamin D levels offers some insight into UV exposure, it isn’t foolproof, especially for those using vitamin D supplements.
Dermatologist Tanya Kormeili emphasizes the importance of understanding UV levels, noting that “Jack Dorsey’s new app Sun Day can show you the risk of UV exposure which is essential for sun safety.” With rising awareness around risks like sunburns, skin aging, and even skin cancer, the app serves as a helpful tool to mitigate these dangers.
Sun protection concerns peak during the summer months, but it’s crucial to remember that UV damage can occur year-round—even on cloudy days. Kormeili highlights the app’s potential to provide an objective measure of UV levels, allowing users to adopt safer sun practices.
While the app holds promise, Kormeili expresses disappointment that it’s being released without the endorsement of dermatology experts to provide guidance on its limitations. This aspect could have added additional credibility and value to the app.