It’s always a bummer when you spent a few hours in the sun and don’t realize until later that you’ve charred your skin. If this happens to you as much as it happens to me, a new monitor to detect sun overexposure might be of interest to you.
The ultra-violet ray detecting wristband, developed at the University of Strathclyde, changes colors as the risk of overexposure to the sun progresses, giving visual warnings for when it’s time to hit up some shade. An acid-release agent in the band gradually brakes down with exposure to UV radiation, which triggers a pH-sensitive dye that turns from yellow to pink.
Swedish-based company Intellego Technologies will be commercializing the wristband, which will be available in spring 2013. Claes Lindahl, the company founder, says they are “very excited about the UV dosimeter technology and we look forward to developing it further and commercializing it.†He added that there is a “substantial need out in the market for a functional UV dosimeter and we look forward to continuing the process in collaboration with the University of Strathclyde.â€
According to Cancer Research U.K., in 2008, there were 200,000 new cases worldwide of Malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. Reducing sun exposure by providing a visual indication sounds like one of the easiest ways to help cut that number and show people how little exposure it takes to damage your skin. As a fair-skinned redhead, I will definitely be trying one of these out.
Image CC licensed by Kelly Sue DeConnick
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