A hot, red sunburn is the usual sign that you've been out in the sun too long. A new skin patch is designed to let you know when it's time to cover up.
The Sticker -- a dime-sized patch worn on the skin or clothing -- is designed to change color with too much exposure to ultraviolet rays. Overexposure causes burns as well as tans, hastens skin aging and increases the risk of skin cancer, says The Skin Cancer Foundation.
The Sticker measures the total accumulated dosage of UV rays absorbed by the body, says Dr. Ori Faran. The physicist is managing director for Skyrad, the business side of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology. Skyrad says existing measurement devices measure intensity of UV rays -- not accumulated dosage -- and don't give an indication of when a person should seek more shade.
The Sticker comes in two versions -- for use with or without sunscreen -- for six skin types and is adjusted to the UV dose that causes burns for that skin type. Skyrad says the Sticker gradually changes from blue to silver or purple to yellow as the absorbed radiation reaches the predetermined level, warning the wearer to get out of the sun, cover up or reapply sunscreen. But if you're hoping to use the Sticker on the beach this summer, you'll have to wait. It's coming out in Australia, New Zealand, Brazil and Argentina this winter, and won't be available in the United States until next spring.
