UV wristband could change how Australians spend time in the sun

It may look like a simple design but RMIT researchers are hoping a prototype wristband will change the way Australians spend time in the sun.

The sensor bracelets are painted with an invisible ink which turns blue under UV lights, one smiley face at a time, letting wearers know just how much UV exposure they're getting.

"If the first smiley lights up that's 25 percent (of a daily vitamin D dose), if the third one lights up that's 75 percent of the dose and finally if the frowning face lights up it tells you enough is enough, leave the sun now," Professor Vipul Bansal said.

RMIT has been working on the concept for the past two years, testing hundreds of combinations of acids to find the right one.

"Maybe 200 combinations," PHD student Wen Yue said.

"I only know I work every day in the lab, I put all my effort in this small sensor."

The bands differ according to skin tone.

If the wearer is also wearing sunscreen, that suncreen can be applied to the band, which changes its UV exposure accordingly.

"This could potentially reduce the rate of skin cancer in Australia," Professor Bansal said.

The wristbands are aimed at helping people on both ends of the scale, those at risk of skin cancer or Vitamin D deficiency.

RMIT is now in talks with manufacturers to lock in the design of the sensor bracelets.

The goal is to have them mass produced and rolled out across Australia, sold for around a dollar a band, one use only.