Wearable Tech for Sun Exposure – My UV Patch by Roche-Posay

Summer’s here and we’re heading into the peak days of the season – the sun is hot and strong – we’re lov’in it! Cottagers head north and the rest of us head for our pools or local beach.  It’s easy to forget that danger is lurking…..no, not Jaws, but rather the sun.  According to CBS news, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer during their lifetime, and at least some of these cases are preventable.  But, now we have more help in the fight for prevention with wearable technology.

There are a number of UV detection systems available out there and the newest one to jump into the market is My UV Patch by La Roche-Posay.  It markets itself as the “first ever wearable UV

patch that allows you to measure and monitor UV exposure.  It’s a stretchable electronic wearable that you can put on any part of your skin – kind of like a bandaid.  The patch is about one square inch in size and extremely thin. Users apply sunscreen on top of the patch as they normally would.  My UV Patch contains photosensitive dyes that change color when exposed to UV rays.   Using the app, users can monitor their individualized sun exposure and get tips on how to be sun safe, such as whether they are applying enough sunscreen.  Patches are designed for multi-day use and are easy to apply.

My UV Patch ensures the wearer knows how much sun exposure they’re receiving in real time and whether or not sun damage is occurring.  Because the damage caused by UV rays is cumulative it’s important for everyone to monitor their exposure in order to avoid possible skin complications, such as cancer, in the future.

Obviously, wearing the patch will not prevent sun damage, wearers are still encouraged to wear sunscreen with UVA and UVB protection and reapply every two hours.  The patch is meant to encourage and reinforce healthy sun behaviour.  My UV Patch is currently only available through La Roche-Posay’s website, www.laroche-posay.com. With luck, future plans will involve making this product more easily accessible to consumers.

Tech wearables are everywhere these days and it’s nice to see them successfully enter the sun safety arena.  Enjoy the summer and remember to be Sun Safe!