Everybody is different so Shade can help you establish daily limits so you don’t push beyond what works for your body.ĭr. The app provides a dashboard of your current level of UV exposure for a given day and helps you understand how increased UV exposure impacts you personally. Shade connects wirelessly to your smartphone (iPhone or Android). Moreover, it uses a clever and versatile magnetic clasp that fits all types of clothing while keeping the sensor securely in place. This technology allows them to measure UV 25 times more accurately than other UV sensors which estimate UV based on brightness.įollowing the development of the technology, Shade worked with IDEO, the global design and innovation firm, to create a stylish and elegant body for the sensor that looks as great as the science inside it. The pair created a proprietary technology that uses a silicon diode and advanced calibration to measure UV. Shayak Banerjee, who is an expert on UV lithography, to bring the accuracy of the lab to everyday life. “Shade’s technology bridges this gap.”ĭr. “Today, there is a large gap in terms of reliability and accuracy between affordable consumer devices and expensive scientific laboratory equipment,” said Dr. Dumont has focused on with the creation of Shade. However, these approaches do not allow for accurate self-analysis or tracking of your personal UV light exposure. Strategies to avoid receiving too much UV light vary, but include wearing long sleeves and pants, even on the hottest days, and use of broad-spectrum sun screens. Additionally, there is some evidence that UV light exposure may increase other systemic flare factors, such as fatigue and weakness.
SUN FLARE EXPOSURE X SKIN
Rashes and skin lesions are common reactions to UV light, including hives and the butterfly rash on the face. These abnormal reactions can vary by person and vary by location on the body. al, 2003 found that 93% of participants with lupus experienced an abnormal reaction to UV light. And, further study by Sanders, C.J.G., et. al, 1989 found that 73% of people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) reported being photosensitive. Used by Olympian Shannon Boxx, Shade has transformed the way people with lupus approach sun exposure and UV light awareness.Ī study by Wysenbeek, A., et. This expertise led him to develop Shade, a smartphone-connected and affordable UV sensor specifically designed for Lupus Warriors. Dumont received his PhD in biophysics from Columbia University before conducting research at the Jacobs Technion-Cornell Institute on UV light measurement. To help out, we got some insights from Dr. And, it is this simplification that may cause you to under-protect yourself.īefore we can see how ultraviolet light impacts people with lupus, and what to do about it, we need to do a quick physics lesson. However, reports on photosensitivity, when covered by health outlets like WebMD and Healthline, have a tendency to oversimplify how the body reacts to sunlight. published over 20 years ago, in 1999, reported that 98.3% of people with lupus understood that sunlight effects lupus disease activity. You’ve read it before: People with lupus should limit their sun exposure. But, photosensitivity presents a unique challenge and is often misunderstood. Having lupus means protecting yourself from dangers.