Device That Alerts Before You Get Sunburn

Wouldn’t it be nice if you were warned ahead of time that you were going to get sunburn? Scientists have developed a device that alerts you before sunburn shows up.

Scientists at the University of Strathclyde’s Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry have created a device that gives an indicator of when sunburn is going to occur. It has a sensitivity to ultraviolet light and therefore gives a warning when sunburn may show up on the skin.

However, this alert can take anywhere from four to eight hours to alert a person, and it may be way too late by then to prevent damage caused by the sun.

This device, known as a dosimeter, can be worn by people as a wristband. The dosimeter works by using an acid-release agent and dye. The agent picks up ultraviolet light while the dye responds to pH levels in the device. The color changes quickly when the agent reacts with the sunlight.

As for the color changes, it is normally a yellowish color, but quickly changes to pink when coming close to the limit that skin can take before it starts to burn.

“Skin cancer is a huge health problem in the UK and many other countries and sunburn is behind it in many cases. This device is a straightforward means for people to keep themselves safe while they enjoy the sun. It can also be modified and adapted for use with all skin types, which can react differently to ultraviolet light,” said Professor Andrew Mills, who led the research.

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