With summer approaching, we’re looking to ways to cover up and protect our skin from the harmful rays as much as we’re looking forward to spending some time in the sun. One product that helps us gauge how long we’ve been in the sun, and tells us when we’re at risk, is UVSunSense Monitoring Bands. These bands are plastic strips you put on like a bracelet, and apply sunscreen to when you apply to your skin. This strip then works as a timer to let you know when to reapply, and simply when you’ve had enough time in the sun.
On a recent cruise through the Panama Canal with stops in Central and South America we used the UVSunSense bands a few days while on the ship. A cruise ship allows plenty of time for you to lie out and soak up the rays. I used the band on an overcast day, and another day when it was clear and constant sun. Both days leave you vulnerable, and the overcast and windy day can give you a sense that you’re not at risk; which simply isn’t true.
I applied sunscreen in the morning before going on deck. I also applied it to the wristband, which I wore for the day. On a sunny day the light lavender band turns a dark violet color immediately upon exposure to the sun. On an overcast day the color change is almost as dramatic. The band turned purple, but possibly not quite as deep a color. On the overcast day I was able to go most of the day on the ship without reapplying more sunscreen. By the end of the day, however, the band had certainly faded and the light pink color suggested I reapply.
On a sunny day, I was out in the sun a few hours when I noticed the band had faded. It was time to reapply or go inside. If I remained in the sun any longer, the band would have turned a yellow color, telling me it was time to get out of the sun. Applying a new coat of sunscreen at that point would still leave me at harm under the harmful rays of the sun.
UVSunSense uses a photo-sensitive material to soak up the sun and act as an indicator for sun exposure. The band is a flexible plastic with an adhesive point at the end that makes it easy to apply to myself. It is also easy to apply to someone else including a child.
I think this is a useful accessory for vacations and other days where you spend time outdoors and in the sun. There are a few drawbacks I think are worth mentioning, however that doesn’t mean the UVSunSense, which costs about $1 a strip, isn’t worth throwing in your bag with a tube of sunscreen.
The first drawback is that the UVSunSense is a bracelet, and therefore while sunscreen lets enough sun through to tan your skin, the wristband totally blocks sun from a ring around your wrist as if you were wearing a watch or bracelet. I left the band loose enough so that it moved on my wrist and let sun in more evenly.
Another drawback is the color. The UVSunSense band turns from pink to purple to pink and yellow. These are arguably feminine colors, therefore it limits the user base somewhat. I used the monitoring band, but didn’t even attempt to get my husband to put one on. Unless there is a technology reason to stay in the purple family, it would be nice to see the UVSunSense monitoring bands in more colors. I could see people getting colors that matched swimsuits to accessorize a day at the beach.
The size of the UVSunSense Monitoring Band might also be an issue. A one-size-fits-all strip, which adjusts depending where on the band you stick the adhesive spot to secure it to your wrist. Smaller wrists, such as a child, require shorter lengths. This means you can double the wristband and deal with the extra layer, or cut the band. My complaint about cutting the band, especially when it goes on a child’s wrist, is that it can leave a sharp edge that might cut or irritate skin. Also, since many people will use this product while traveling, cutting the band might not be an option. Cutting the band requires scissors. If you’re flying, or even just trying to travel light, scissors are an extra weight to put in luggage or a beach bag. On the plus side, if you cut the band you can actually use the extra piece as an additional monitor. You just might not be able to put that piece around your wrist, but it will still work.
UVSunSense is a smart way to monitor your sun exposure. It’s not foolproof. You still have to properly apply sunscreen to all exposed areas. It’s also important to realize that some people have more sensitive skin and might need to watch the color change on the wristband a little more closely and reapply sunscreen sooner. Everyone is an individual, and the wristband is more of a one-size-fits-all solution so you still need to be mindful of the sun even while you have extra assurances like the UVSunSense around your wrist.