Efficacy of a Low-Cost UV Sensor for In Vitro Sunscreen Tests

Public project summary

What if you could find out which sunscreen has higher UV protection in 3 seconds using just a $10 sensor? Currently, golden standard sunscreen tests performed on human skin are timely and expensive, and have raised ethical and accuracy concerns. Consequently, scientists are working to perform these tests in labs instead, using equipment like spectrophotometers and artificial skin. These in vitro tests still have their own flaws, and there is no unanimous sunscreen test used globally that scientists have agreed on. Instead, this study aims to focus on a low-cost, fast solution that focuses more on comparing sunscreens relative to one another than finding the true accuracy of one sunscreen—information more helpful for consumers. In a series of tests, UV light is emitted on different percentages of zinc oxide cream, where a low-cost UVM30A sensor detects how much UV penetrates through the cream. The accuracy of the UV sensor will be supported if, as the percent of zinc oxide in the cream increases, the amount of UV detected decreases.