Beach dwellers will soon be able to track when they’ve had too much sun.
Researchers have created a wristband that warns wearers when they’re exposure to the sun has become dangerous, protecting them from developing deadly melanomas.
Professor Vipul Bansal with the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology set out to develop the Ultra Violet light sensitive ink used in the wristband after being identified with a Vitamin D deficiency.
‘This could potentially reduce the rate of skin cancers in Australia,’ Professor Bansal told 9News.
Researchers have created a wristband that can warn a wearer when they’ve had too much sun and protect them from deadly melanomas
The prototype bracelet has four paper circles printed with the UV sensitive ink to indicate daily exposure levels in 25 per cent increments.
When all four circles are visible, the wearer is warned to get out of the sun as soon as possible.
‘We can print our ink on any paper-like surface to produce cheap wearable sensors in the form of wrist-bands, head bands or stickers for example,’ he said.
The wristbands come in six variations to reflect the differences in human skin tones.
Skin types are classified from Type I to Type VI according to the widely used Fitzpatrick scale, with Type I indicating very pale skin that burns easily and does not tan and Type VI indicating dark skin that does not burn.
‘We are excited that our UV sensor technology allows the production of personalised sensors that can be matched to the specific needs of a particular individual,’ said Bansal.
‘The low cost and child-friendly design of these UV sensors will facilitate their use as educational materials to increase awareness around sun safety.’
The researchers estimate the wristbands could be widely available to the public within 12 months and will be priced around $1.
Professor Vipul Bansal (right) led the team from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology that included Dr Rajesh Ramanthan (left) and PhD candidate Wenyue Zou (centre)
Low levels of sunlight are healthy for people in order to maintain levels of Vitamin D, however, excessive exposure can cause sunburn, premature aging, and, in worst cases, melanomas.
Wenyue Zou, who assisted Professor Bansal, spent two years in the laboratory researching over 200 various combinations of acids until she came across the winning formula.
‘I work everyday in the lab putting all my effort into this small sensor,’ the PhD student said.
The only tool for monitoring sun exposure currently is the UV index, which indicates the intensity of UV rays, but does not measure an individual’s level of exposure.
The only tool for monitoring sun exposure currently is the UV index, which indicates the intensity of UV rays, but does not measure an individual’s level of exposure