Brian Matthys, a US dermatologist who is trying to develop a wristband that may tell wearers when to apply sunscreen. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Matthys says the app is intended to be a clinical tool that stores information on daily UV exposure that can be used just by the wearer or shared with the wearer's dermatologist.

"Our whole focus is based on 20 years of experience in the patient room," Matthys says.

Matthys says he's partnering with Engenious Design in Overland Park to design the wristband, Crema in Kansas City to develop the smartphone app and Cargt Consulting in Lenexa to build a prototype of the wristband.

The device's patent application is pending and there's no estimated date yet for it to come to market.

But it's something Matthys has been thinking about for decades and now it's closer to reality.

"Imagine, 20 years ago we didn't have an iPhone, we didn't have any way of using wearable technology," Matthys says. "It just wasn't en vogue. ... It was one of those things where we just had to wait for the technology and the culture to make a device that would fit both."

Tribune News Service