A convenient UV indicator for measuring sunscreen efficacy and preventing skin damage

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The goal for this university-industry collaborative project is to develop a dynamic ink system that can beapplied to the skin under commonly used sunscreen products and indicate to the user when the sunscreen hasworn off and when to reapply it. The ink will be based on microencapsulated photoresponsive dye moleculesthat will change from colourless to coloured when exposed to the UVB radiation in sunlight. The sunscreenworn on top of this stamped ink will block the UVB radiation and prevent the ink from colouring. When thesunscreen wears off, the UVB will reach the stamp, activate the photochromic dyes and become coloured.Reapplication of the sunscreen will block the activating light and the stamp will return to its originallycolourless state.Second generation systems will not only provide visual feed back to the user about the need to reapply thesunscreen, they will also act as dosimeters, providing information about to the total amount of radiationreceived.The collaboration between the Branda group at 4D LABS and this local Canadian company will help developnew materials and methods to overcome an important health problem and provide better guidelines about usingsunscreen effectively.