Mansfield phone app protects against deadly sun rays

As Britain swelters in a mini summer heatwave, Si Health based in central Mansfield has created a smartphone app that gives realtime readings for dangerous Ultra Violet light.

Ultra Violet light or UV cause sun burn and contributes to skin cancer.

In the UK more than 8 in 10 cases of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer, could be prevented by cutting down exposure to UV rays.

According to Cancer research, UV radiation from the sun is the main avoidable risk factor for skin cancer.

Now a new app has been launched to save lives by measuring exactly how much sun exposure your skin can safely take before it starts to burn.

HappySun App tracks the world�s weather satellites to measure how much UV radiation at any global location your skin is absorbing.

Once HappySun is downloaded, it prompts a series of questions to determine what skin type they have, where they are and what kind of location they are in.

It combines all this information to give individual advice - with a warning alarm sounding when it�s time to get out of the sun.

Emilio Simeone, who heads Si Health, based on the Nottingham Road in Mansfield, said: �”I’�s really important that people know if it�s safe to expose yourself with too much to excessive UV rays.

“�We want to make people safe and using your phone as a way of checking your UV exposure is sensible. Your exposure to UV light changes every minute of the day, because clouds block the rays.

�”This way you can tell if it�s how long it is safe for your and your family to spend in the sun.�

The HappySun app was developed in collaboration with the European Space agency, the University of Naples and the Italian Association against Melanoma.

HappySun is free and available through the Apple and Android App stores, or at happysun.co.uk.