For most of us, we can only guess whether we are getting enough vitamin D from the sunlight if we prefer the natural source over the supplements. But guessing can be dangerous, which can lead to painful burns and even long-term skin damage.
Thankfully, wearable technology has a great solution for this. UV sensors are smart wearables that take the guesswork out of sun protection. They measure the sun’s strength in real-time to keep you safe. Here is everything you need to know about this technology.
What is a UV Light Sensor?
A UV light sensor is a tiny sensor technology that is used in smartwatches, smart rings and some clip-on devices, which helps you to measure how much Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is hitting your skin surface.
These readings are usually given in UVI scale, known as Ultra Violet Index, which clearly shows a notification whether the sun is safe or not safe for you at the moment.
These sensors show data like:
- Low number (0-2), which means it is safe to go out.
- Moderate number (3-5), which means protection is required.
- A high number (6-7), which means protection is essential.
- A very high number (8-10), which means you need extra protection.
- Extreme numbers (11+), which means that you are at serious risk of burning, so you need to stay inside.
UV monitoring matters because UV rays can cause:
- Sunburn
- Face aging
- DNA damage
- Skin Cancer
Best Wearables with UV Sensors
The only wearables to measure UV rays exposure are:
Sun-a-Wear
This wearable is a waterproof clip that you can attach to your clothes or to your bag. Sun-a-Wear acts as a great option as it runs on solar power, so you will not need to charge it. It helps you to track the exposure in real-time and after that, it sends a notification to your phone when you have had enough sun exposure for the day.
This is best for most people because it is easy, automatic and helps you to keep you safe without checking your phone for updates. Plus, it comes at a pocket-friendly price of $89.
It is compatible with both Android and iOS and it connects easily with the phone’s Bluetooth and has a clip-on attachment.
| Specifications | Sun-a-Wear |
|---|---|
| Compatible with | iOS and Android |
| Sensors per app | Up to 4 |
| Measurements | UV index |
| Connection | Bluetooth low energy |
| Attachment | Clip |
| Power Supply | Solar Powered |
| Temperature Range | Operational at 15°F to 125°F |
| Size | 0.4 in × 0.7 in × 1.5 in |
| Weight | ⅓ oz or 9 g |
| Warranty | 2-year free replacement warranty |
Color-Changing Wristbands
They are simple plastic bracelets that you can usually buy in bulk packs. This wristband is white in color and as the UV exposure increases, this band turns into a dark shade of purple.
It helps to give you a quick reality check of the sun exposure you have, instantly tells you that the sun has strong rays outside, and you should head for the shade.
Note: It is important to know that most smartwatches do not have a real UV sensor inside them. Instead of measuring the sun’s radiation, they use your GPS and the internet to check the local weather report.
How Does the UV Sensor Help to Prevent Skin Damage
One of the biggest problems with sunburn is that by the time your skin turns red, the damage is already done. UV sensors help you to stop this before it even happens.
- It can give you an alert when the UV levels are high.
- It can suggest you take sunglasses with you, or you can also wear a hat.
- It reminds you to apply or reapply sunscreen.
- The device tracks how much sun you get throughout the day.
This UV sensor helps teenagers to understand the importance and amount of sunscreen to apply so they can protect themselves.
Accuracy and Limitations of UV Sensors
You might be thinking: can a tiny gadget really track the UV rays accurately?
The answer is yes, it can track, but the accuracy totally depends upon a few factors, like:-
- Placement of device: It becomes important for the accuracy, as if the sensor is covered by a cloth or it is inside a sleeve, it may lead to incorrect UV levels.
- Outdoor Surroundings: Water, sand and even glass can reflect UV rays, which increases the exposure more than what is detected by the sensor.
- Weather Conditions: It becomes important as UV rays can pass through clouds and on cloudy days, it can be assumed that there is a lower exposure.
While these gadgets are amazing, you need to keep in mind that they are medical devices and they can’t diagnose skin problems. They also struggle during extreme weather conditions and resulting in partial coverage of data.
Wrap Up
Not all skin types are the same. Someone with very fair skin might get burned in 10 minutes, while someone with darker skin might take longer time to get a sunburn.
New devices are smart. You just need to tell what your skin is like. Those devices do all the calculations and just tell you the exact moment you need to go for a shade.
The rays that we can’t see can be detected by these devices, which gives you a clear idea when to take a shade or put on sunscreen.
