High street pharmacy Boots creates sun cream stickers that tell parents when kids need top up

A high street pharmacy has created a wearable guide for children on when to reapply sun cream during the warm summer weather.

Boots’ UV detection stickers allow parents to check when their kids last put on the factor 50 and assess whether it needs to be reapplied.

The adhesives change colour throughout the day as protection from harmful solar rays wears off following its initial application.

When the colour drains from the patches, which are sweat and waterproof as well as hypoallergenic, it is time for sun cream to be reapplied.

Experts said the stickers use “skin mimicking technology” which has been scientifically developed to mimic the skins pore size, so they will not simply fall off when wet.

Boots sun care specialist Clare O’Connor added: “After discovering that 39% of parents find it hard to estimate the right time to reapply sun protection on their children, the Soltan Learn to Reapply UV Detection Stickers will reassure you that enough sunscreen has been applied for optimum protection, turning from purple to clear to let you know when your child is fully protected.

“The sticker will remain clear when skin is protected and fade back to purple as the sunscreen becomes less effective – particularly handy if you’ve forgotten to reapply after swimming and towelling dry.”