L’Oréal’s wearable UV patch finally launched

The launch from the global beauty giant sees it enter the world of flexible electronics for the first time, with the band aid-sized device comprising of an ultra-thin sensor for UV radiation detection.

Although initially showcased back in January of this year at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2016, the tech has only just hit retail channels, and is now available for free alongside purchases of sun care products from the La Roche-Posay website.

The heart-shaped sensor, which was developed by a team of 25 researchers across the world, is reportedly set to be launched across 16 countries in this initial launch.

How does it work?​

The My UV Patch is a printed electronic circuit on a flexible film of an area of ​​about 2.5 cm² and a thickness of 50 micrometres, making it as thin as a strand of hair.

The sensor contains a photosensitive blue dye (a ‘dosimeter’), which changes colour when exposed to ultraviolet light, informing consumers of when to protect themselves, either with sunscreen or other appropriate measures, like covering exposed skin.

The sensor is also linked to an app which reportedly measures both instant and cumulative UV doses over several hours or even days. To make the analysis as accurate as possible, L’Oréal recommends that the waterproof patch is worn on the back of the hand for a period of up to five days.

Game changing tech​

“The connected technologies can fundamentally change the way we monitor exposure of the skin to various external factors such as UV rays,​” Guive Balooch, Vice President of L’Oréal R&I’s Connected Beauty incubator, previously said of the technology.

“Earlier rigid and non-transparent technologies only indicated the amount of UV radiation received in one hour to consumers. Now for the first time, consumers can wear an ultra-thin skin patch to measure their sun exposure with more precision.”​

A survey conducted by La Roche-Posay found that of 19,000 American women and men asked, 92% were aware that unprotected sun exposure can cause health problems, but only 26% of them protect themselves all year round.