The UV Index doesn't measure UVA.
UVA is the part of sunlight linked to skin ageing. It is there for longer in the day than the UV Index suggests, which is why we built this app: so you know when to wear sunscreen.
UVA and UVB levels for your location, with an 8-day forecast kept up to date through the day, and a search by place name or postcode. Also available on Apple Watch and Siri.
Free for iPhone, worldwide. Android coming soon.
Why both?
The UV Index is the World Health Organization's measure of the sun's burning strength. It mostly measures UVB and says little about UVA.
UVA reaches deeper into the skin than UVB. Repeated exposure without protection can lead to long-term damage and premature ageing, and is linked to skin cancer. Darker skin usually burns less easily from UVB, but UVA reaches all skin types and, in darker skin, can trigger or worsen melasma and the dark marks left by acne or injuries.
What you'll see
- A dial of the whole day, UVA on the outer ring and UVB on the inner, with the hours each one is Moderate or higher.
- The weather forecast.
- Advice on whether to wear sunscreen, how much to put on, and how to choose an SPF.
- Daily reminders for Home or any of your places, at a time you choose or before UV first reaches Moderate or High, and only on the days sunscreen is needed if you like.
- A Home Screen widget with the day's peak UVA and UVB.
- On Apple Watch: today's headline and the peak UVA and UVB at a glance.
- Forecasts from around the world, times in 12-hour or 24-hour, and temperature in °C or °F.
Your privacy
There's no account to make and no advertising. The app asks for the forecast by a square about 2 km across, never your exact position.
Solarpunk gives general information, not medical advice. If you have a skin condition, or take medication that makes you sensitive to sunlight, follow your doctor's advice.