New wearable UV detector can monitor exposure and prevent sunburn
Scientists have developed a new wearable UV detection system that could help prevent sunburn.
Almost nine out of ten cases of skin cancer in the UK are caused by exposure to too much ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and sunbeds, according to Cancer Research.
UV radiation can cause significant damage to skin health. Of the three types: UVA, UVB and UVC, UVA is the most dangerous because its long wavelength allows it to penetrate the ozone layer and penetrate deep into human skin.
Wearing sunscreen provides useful protection against UVA, but this new fully transparent device connects to a smartphone and tracks the user’s exposure to it, which can help prevent the risk of skin damage.
Unlike existing opaque sensors, this new, transparent device “provides seamless integration with the environment and users, especially in wearable devices such as smartwatches, glasses, and patches where transparent UV detection is required,” according to study author Yu Bin Kim of Soongsil University in Seoul, South Korea.
“This smartphone-integrated healthcare device demonstrates its potential as a practical approach to preventing risks associated with long-term UV exposure,” the researchers concluded.
Study published in the journal Science Developmentstested the sensor’s transmittance – the amount of light that passes through the opaque device and reaches its inner semiconductor. The researchers found that the sensor achieved an average transmittance of 75 percent.
This sensor is then connected to a smartphone, and the system collects data about sunlight in real time and alerts the user when it reaches 80 percent of the threshold before a predicted sunburn occurs.
Long-term exposure to UVA accelerates skin aging and increases the risk of cancer. The study authors argued that real-time monitoring is necessary to prevent skin damage and associated health risks.
But experts say that doesn’t mean you should stop taking other precautions, like using sunscreen and seeking shade in the midday sun. This device is designed as an additional tool to prevent sun damage.
Cancer Research warns that a sunburn every two years can triple the risk of developing skin cancer compared to not burning at all.
Research shows that a single severe sunburn in childhood or adolescence nearly doubles a person’s risk of developing melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer, later in life.
The NHS advises people to use a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 30 to protect against UVB rays and at least 4-star UVA protection to prevent sun damage.
