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>My lab is also working on invisible UV-protective tattoos that would absorb UV light penetrating through the skin, like a long-lasting sunscreen just below the

>My lab is also working on invisible UV-protective tattoos that would absorb UV light penetrating through the skin, like a long-lasting sunscreen just below the surface. Ummm... I think evolution had already figured this out. It's called melanin.

ladberg 6y ago
Not everyone has enough
cinntaile 6y ago
It would be a long-lasting sunscreen. Our bodies don't produce sunscreen.
- layoutIfNeeded 6y ago
  Like I said, our bodies do produce sunscreen, it’s called melanin, and it’s more effective at converting UV radiation to heat than anything humans came up with.
  - cinntaile 6y ago
    Yes, I read what you said and I understood what you meant the first time. To be clear, I and the article mean artificial sunscreen. Melanin does not offer enough protection hence why we have sunscreen we can apply on our skin. Can you give a source for your statement that it's more effective than anything else we can come up with? Sounds like an interesting study.
    - layoutIfNeeded 6y ago
      “ The cosmetic industry claims that the UV filter acts as an "artificial melanin". But those artificial substances used in sunscreens do not efficiently dissipate the energy of the UV photon as heat. Instead these substances have a very long excited state lifetime.[15] In fact, the substances used in sunscreens are often used as photosensitizers in chemical reactions. (see Benzophenone).” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoprotection https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoprotection
      - cinntaile 6y ago
        Thanks for the source, I looked at some of the studies and it seems like you were correct but there appears to be a small catch. There seems to be a difference between physical blockers such as TiO2 and ZnO, which basically reflect the UV rays and UV-absorbers like mentioned in your link which convert the rays to heat. Sunscreen usually contains both components. Interesting stuff though, I thought sunscreen was mostly a solved problem but you and your reference as well as some other references made me rethink that idea.

ladberg 6y ago

Not everyone has enough

cinntaile 6y ago

It would be a long-lasting sunscreen. Our bodies don't produce sunscreen.

layoutIfNeeded 6y ago
Like I said, our bodies do produce sunscreen, it’s called melanin, and it’s more effective at converting UV radiation to heat than anything humans came up with.
- cinntaile 6y ago
  Yes, I read what you said and I understood what you meant the first time. To be clear, I and the article mean artificial sunscreen. Melanin does not offer enough protection hence why we have sunscreen we can apply on our skin. Can you give a source for your statement that it's more effective than anything else we can come up with? Sounds like an interesting study.
  - layoutIfNeeded 6y ago
    “ The cosmetic industry claims that the UV filter acts as an "artificial melanin". But those artificial substances used in sunscreens do not efficiently dissipate the energy of the UV photon as heat. Instead these substances have a very long excited state lifetime.[15] In fact, the substances used in sunscreens are often used as photosensitizers in chemical reactions. (see Benzophenone).” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoprotection https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photoprotection
    - cinntaile 6y ago
      Thanks for the source, I looked at some of the studies and it seems like you were correct but there appears to be a small catch. There seems to be a difference between physical blockers such as TiO2 and ZnO, which basically reflect the UV rays and UV-absorbers like mentioned in your link which convert the rays to heat. Sunscreen usually contains both components. Interesting stuff though, I thought sunscreen was mostly a solved problem but you and your reference as well as some other references made me rethink that idea.