SunMate Personal UV Moniter

Introduction
You may know that the Sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin aging, sunburn, and skin cancer. Unfortunately, your eyes can not easily determine the intensity of UV radiation especially on cloudy and snowy days. This neat little device can alert you when the UV intensity exceeds dangerous limits so you can apply the proper steps to protect your skin and eyes.

About Ultraviolet Solar Radiation
Solar UV rays make up part of the photonic spectrum of light. The ultraviolet region ranges from 10nm to 400nm (nanometer) and can be further divided into UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. UV-A rays range from 320nm to 400nm, UV-B rays range from 280nm to 320nm, and UV-C radiation has wavelengths less than 280nm.
UV-A is linked to sunburn, accelerated skin aging, and damage to DNA. UV-B also causes sunburn and is related to snow blindness, skin cancer, and immune system suppression. UV-C is extremely dangerous to plants and animals. However, it is absorbed by the ozone layer and does not reach the ground unless the ozone layer is destroyed.

About The Ultraviolet (UV) Index
The National Weather Service (NWS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed the UV Index to help in planning outdoor activities. It can be found on almost every weather forecast.
The UV index numbers developed by NWS and EPA indicating the intensity of the sun are shown below. Exposure levels are given on a scale of 0 to 10+, with 0 indicating minimal exposure and 10+ indicating very high and dangerous UV levels.

Minimal
Low
Moderate
High
Very High
0 - 2
3 - 4
4 - 7
7 - 9
10+

About Osun’s SunMate
Osun’s SunMate alerts the user of a possible over-exposure to ultraviolet rays from sunlight. This handy device is easy to understand and does not need technical background. The LEDs indicate the UVI levels according to the chart below. As you may notice, the gaps between the ranges in the table above are closed to make the detection continuous.

No light
 
Green
(Safe)
Yellow
(Caution)
Red
(Warning)
0 - 2
2 - 4
4 - 7
7+

User Instruction
According to the EPA, and other government agencies and private organizations, there are ways to reduce the risk of short and long term damage to your skin and eyes. These include:

Reducing the risks of overexposure to ultraviolet rays
Osun’s SunMate alerts the user of a possible over-exposure to ultraviolet rays from sunlight. This handy device is easy to understand and does not need technical background. The LEDs indicate the UVI levels according to the chart below. As you may notice, the gaps between the ranges in the table above are closed to make the detection continuous.

apply sunscreen
wear proper clothing
wear sunglasses
avoid midday sun
wear a hat
remain inside when UVI is high

Size: 1.2"x3.3"x0.5". Weight: 0.7 oz. Made in USA.
Warranty One year.

Prevention of skin cancer:
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has declared war on skin cancer by recommending these three preventive steps:

Wear protective clothing, including a hat with a four-inch brim.

Apply sunscreen all over your body and avoid the midday sun from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Regularly use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher, even on cloudy days.

The following six steps have been recommended by the AAD and the Skin Cancer Foundation to help reduce the risk of sunburn and skin cancer.

Minimize exposure to the sun at midday - between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Apply sunscreen, with at least a SPF-15 or higher that protects against both UVA and UVB rays, to all areas of the body that are exposed to the sun.

Reapply sunscreen every two hours, even on cloudy days. Reapply after swimming or perspiring.

Wear clothing that covers the body and shades the face. Hats should provide shade for both the face and back of the neck. Wearing sunglasses will reduce the amount of rays reaching the eye by filtering as much as 80 percent of the rays, and protecting the lids of our eyes as well as the lens.

Avoid exposure to UV radiation from sunlamps or tanning parlors.

Protect children. Keep them from excessive sun exposure when the sun is strongest (between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.), and apply sunscreen liberally and frequently to children 6 months of age and older.

Remember, sand and pavement reflect UV rays even under the umbrella. Snow is even a particularly good reflector of UV rays. Reflective surfaces can reflect up to 85 percent of the damaging sun rays.

What is skin cancer?
Skin cancer is a malignant tumor that grows in the skin cells and accounts for 40 percent of all cancers. In the US alone, 1.3 million Americans will be diagnosed this year with nonmelanoma skin cancer, and 54,200 will be diagnosed with melanoma, according to the American Cancer Society.

What are the different types of skin cancer?
There are three main types of skin cancer, including:

Name Description
basal cell carcinoma Basal cell carcinoma accounts for approximately 90 percent of all skin cancers. This highly treatable cancer starts in the basal cell layer of the epidermis (the top layer of skin) and grows very slowly. Basal cell carcinoma usually appears as a small, shiny bump or nodule on the skin - mainly those areas exposed to the sun, such as the head, neck, arms, hands, and face. It commonly occurs among persons with light-colored eyes, hair, and complexion.
squamous cell carcinoma Squamous cell carcinoma accounts for about 20 percent of all skin cancer cases. Although more aggressive than basal cell carcinoma, this cancer is highly treatable. Squamous cell carcinoma may appear as nodules or red, scaly patches of skin, and may be found on the face, ears, lips, and mouth. However, squamous cell carcinoma can spread to other parts of the body. This type of skin cancer is usually found in fair-skinned people.
malignant melanoma Although less common, this type of skin cancer is the most deadly, accounting for approximately 75 percent of all skin cancer deaths. Malignant melanoma starts in the melanocytes - cells that produce pigment in the skin. Malignant melanomas usually begin as a mole that then turns cancerous. This cancer may spread quickly. Malignant melanoma most often appears on fair-skinned men and women, but persons with all skin types may be affected.

Distinguishing benign moles from melanoma:
To prevent melanoma, it is important to examine your skin on a regular basis, and become familiar with moles, and other skin conditions, in order to better identify changes. According to recent research, certain moles are at higher risk for changing into malignant melanoma. Moles that are present at birth, and atypical moles, have a greater chance of becoming malignant. Recognizing changes in moles, by following this ABCD Chart, is crucial in detecting malignant melanoma at its earliest stage. The warning signs are:

Melanoma Information

The number of new cases of melanoma continues to rise faster than any other type of human cancer
Melanoma on the rise among children
Malignant Melanoma Death Rates Rise in White Americans
Alternative health

Melanomas vary greatly in appearance. Some melanomas may show all of the ABCD characteristics, while other may only show changes in one or two characteristics. Always consult your physician for a diagnosis