Do you worry about your children’s sun safety? Most parents do — and that’s exactly why this idea from La Roche-Posay caught our attention when it first launched.
A Wearable Way to Track UV Exposure
La Roche-Posay introduced a world-first, Irish-designed wearable UV monitor called My UV Patch. It was the first stretchable skin sensor created to monitor UV exposure and help people understand their sun protection needs. The patch was designed by Irish company PCH, with plans to roll it out globally.
The idea was simple but clever: a wearable patch that monitors UV exposure and lets you know when it’s time to apply more sunscreen or head for the shade.
How the Patch Works
The patch contains photosensitive dyes that work with all skin tones, changing colour as it’s exposed to UV rays to show different levels of sun exposure.
Users could take a photo of the patch and upload it to the My UV Patch app (available on iOS and Android) to see exactly how much sun exposure they’d had, and whether it was time to cover up.
For parents, an idea like this is genuinely useful — instead of guessing sun exposure based on the clock and an SPF number, you’d have a visual cue right there on your child’s skin. Of course, a patch like this isn’t a replacement for sunscreen — it’s a helpful extra layer of sun safety awareness.
Why Sun Safety Matters in Ireland
When La Roche-Posay and the Irish Cancer Society launched their Skinchecker awareness campaign, they shared findings from a 2016 survey that highlighted just how much of a blind spot sun safety can be for adults in Ireland:
- Almost half of adults (44%) said they only wore sunscreen during the summer months.
- 37% said they only wore sunscreen once the weather passed 20°C.
- 1 in 10 (12%) didn’t wear sunscreen at all, believing Irish weather meant they didn’t need it — compared to 3 in 4 (77%) who wore sunscreen daily on sun holidays abroad.
- Almost 1 in 3 (29%) believed they could spend just 30 minutes in Irish sun before their skin was at risk, while a further third thought the risk didn’t start until 30 minutes to an hour.
- Almost 3 in 5 (59%) admitted they didn’t know how to check their own skin for signs of skin cancer.
- Only 16% checked their moles every 2–3 months as recommended, and 15% said they never checked at all.
(Survey conducted by Empathy Research among 1,000 Irish adults, April 2016.)
Non-melanoma skin cancer has long been one of the more common cancers reported in Ireland, and sun protection remains one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce the risk. Wearing sunscreen, seeking shade, and covering up during peak UV hours are still the basics that matter most for the whole family.
Over to You
What do you think of ideas like this? Wearable tech that makes sun safety more visible and tangible for kids is a brilliant concept — and we’d love to know whether it’s the kind of thing you’d use with your own family. Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Related Articles
- Become a Skin Checker: A Guide for Parents
- Sun Safety Tips for Families This Summer
- Easy Ways to Protect Your Kids’ Skin Outdoors
Save This for Later
Sun safety is one of those things worth revisiting every summer. Bookmark this article or save it to your favourites so you have it handy when the sunny days roll around.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a UV patch?
A UV patch is a wearable sensor that changes colour when exposed to UV rays, giving a visual indication of how much sun exposure the wearer has had.
Does a UV patch replace sunscreen?
No. A UV patch is designed to raise awareness of sun exposure, not to protect the skin. Sunscreen, shade, and protective clothing remain the main lines of defence.
How can I keep my child sun-safe day to day?
Apply sunscreen generously and reapply regularly, dress children in UV-protective clothing and hats, keep them in the shade during peak sun hours, and encourage them to wear sunglasses where appropriate.
Why does sun safety matter even on cloudy days in Ireland?
UV rays can still reach the skin through cloud cover, so sun protection is worth building into the daily routine during summer months, not just on visibly sunny days.
