L’Oreal a French cosmetics and beauty company enters the wearables territory as it unveils its smart skin patch on a technology show, CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas. My UV Patch is an ultra-thin, stretchable sensor you can stick on any place on your skin to help track your personal UV exposure. The one-square-inch patch is only half as thick as a hair strand yet houses photosensitive dyes, which change color depending on how much UV radiation it’s exposed to.To check how much UV exposure they are under, wearers must take a photo of the patch on their smartphone and then upload it to an app. The app is special because it will advise the wearer whether to apply more sunscreen or take a break and head for the shade.
The My UV Patch, which is thinner than a plaster and lasts around five days, is disposable. It can be worn on any part of the body. It’s not the first topical device to measure UV. Solar Magic nail polish changes hue in UV light, and UV monitoring bracelets like the Sunfriend Daily Activity Monitor are already on the market. But L’Oreal credits its smart patch as the first flexible wearable, since it can be reused.
