Innovation of the week: A camera that shows where you're missing sunscreen

Sun protection just got even more accurate.

(Image credit: Courtesy image)

"Skin cancer is serious business, and yet we take an incredibly haphazard approach to sun protection," said Lance Ulanoff at Mashable. Enter Sunscreenr, a pocket-size device that promises to make sure beachgoers never miss a spot with their sunblock again.

Sunscreenr contains a tiny UV camera that shows how thoroughly sunscreen has been applied. Skin with sunblock on it will appear dark through the viewfinder, because the sunblock is absorbing UV rays, while skin that’s still exposed will look pale. If you're alone, you can record up to 30 seconds of video of yourself to see if you've missed any spots, with the video deleted as soon as you record another segment. Sunscreenr is currently raising funds on Indiegogo, where it can be pre-ordered for $109, though the company hopes the eventual retail price will be much cheaper. The device is expected to launch later this year.

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.