Seattle Health Blog

Knowing how long you can spend in the sun, without running the risk of ultraviolet rays damage the skin, it is now possible thanks to a system that calculates the appropriate period of exposure to solar radiation, according to the skin of each person and the place where you are.

With this invention seeks to reduce the incidence of skin cancer. “The software determines the maximum recommended exposure to solar UV radiation, including the use of protective creams for people with different skin types displayed at any time and day of the year,” he told EFE Ruben Piacentini, director of Institute of Physics of the Argentina’s Rosario city (IFIR), which developed the project.

According to Argentine newspaper Infobae, the system can be installed on any computer and was created with the collaboration of researchers from the University of Innsbruck, Austria, Argentina and the Foundation Skin Cancer.

How to use

For information, the user must enter your skin type, the kind of surface you are (sand, water or cement), time of day and geographic location in which you, as the height or snow can increase the risk of radiation by 60 percent.
Sunbathing die trying

The software was designed to calculate the data anywhere in Argentina, although “you can develop a similar application for another country or region, with the right information,” says Piacentini.

In fact, IFIR has already started negotiations with regional governments and organizations in Ecuador and Brazil to implement the program called UVARG (software for predicting sun exposure in Argentina).

Advantage

“The software allows us to know instantly and in real time the danger of ultraviolet radiation, but also can be predicted months in advance what will be the risk, making it a useful tool to plan vacations to any destination” said the scientist.

Another use would be for employees who perform abroad, because the system tells them what protections they should take.

The system also alerts “on special situations such as the development of the ozone hole or about significant changes in the average value of this layer in future years,” says Piacentini.

The scientists who developed this software tool say that if people respect the times suggested sun exposure reduces the risk of diseases like skin cancer.

Today this evil is the most common cancers and the number of cases is growing at a rate of 5 percent annually, according to international statistics.

Meanwhile, in Argentina each year 600 people die from the disease and are detected 1400 new cases, according to the Sociedad Argentina de Dermatología (SAD).