This High-Tech Tattoo Wants to Save Your Skin From Harmful UV Rays

Photo: LogicInk
Ever been enjoying a day at the beach but totally forget to reapply sunscreen? And how exactly do you know when to lather up again? Based on how much time has past, or if your skin feels warm, or something else entirely? Does sunscreen alone even totally protect you from harmful UV rays? (Short answer? No.)

Well, though it might be hard to believe that something as simple as a temporary tattoo could help decrease your risk of developing skin cancer, that's exactly what one company's high-tech product aims to achieve.

LogicInk's device—which you simply stick on a sun-exposed part of your body—can tell you just how much sun you're getting and exactly how close you are to reaching your daily limit. And unlike La Roche-Posay's sticker, which was unveiled in 2016, this one doesn't require an app: It simply uses a UV sensor that changes colors to let you monitor your intake based on your skin tone.

"By precluding electronics, we’re also precluding the need to have a bulky device on your skin or a higher cost or a steep learning curve." —Carlos Olguin, founder and CEO of LogicInk

"By precluding electronics, we’re also precluding the need to have a bulky device on your skin or a higher cost or a steep learning curve," Carlos Olguin, founder and CEO of LogicInk, told Fast Company. "We think that by taking this approach, we’re reaching out to a much wider demographic, not just geeks like me who like to have gadgets strapped to their bodies 24/7."

Right now the start-up is only in its beta-testing stage but plans to launch in time for people to stay safe in the sun next summer. Olguin says the yet-to-be-announced cost will be low enough to not prohibit use for the masses. And even if the product ends up being a tad pricey, it might be worth the added bonus of being able to trick your beach buds into thinking you got some cool ink, right?

Are midnight snacks making your sunburns worse? Also, here are some surprising things the sun damages besides your skin.

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