Most 'realistic' looking limb cosmeses are produced in a skin tone to match their wearer. However in the summer, ther wearer will change colour upon exposure to the sun, leaving a mis-match between the limb and the user.
I propose that thermo and photoreactive colouring agents be added to the cosmesis in differing layers so that after exposure to the sun, the limb slowly changes hue. By having these agents at different depths, the reaction will be more gradual than were it just a surface element.-- oneoffdave, Aug 15 2003 A standard cosmesis http://www.blatchfo...osmesis/skin_fx.htmskin like leg covering [oneoffdave, Oct 05 2004] Cosmesis defined http://cancerweb.nc.../omd?query=cosmesisOnly available in medical dictionaries. The word does not appear in the new edition of the OED. [bristolz, Oct 05 2004] Roughly, what is the rate of degradation of surface materials due to heat/cold or environment? Bun-- thumbwax, Aug 15 2003 + for the idea, and bonus points for adding "cosmesis" to my vocabulary.-- friendlyfire, Aug 15 2003 Great idea - + - but how will you get the limb to fade back to (what would be in my case) a shade of bluish-white by February? Presumably once you're fully grown you don't replace cosmeses very often so they will need to last year-round.-- hazel, Aug 15 2003 Is cosmesis a brand name or a medical term?-- bristolz, Aug 15 2003 [thumb] Most of the degredation is due to friction wear and tear, especially on hands. The silicone used copes fairly well with the usual environmental extremes that the body copes with.
[hazel] By using materials akin to those in temperature sensitive plastics for kids' feeding implements and photoreactive glasses, the effect would reverse once the limb has been taken out of the heat/sun. The down side is it wouldn't retain your tan to show all your friends when you got home. A cos would be replaced every 6-8 months or so depending on the amount of wear the limb gets.
[bliss] I'd get funny looks (well, funnier than usual) passing through customs with a selection of various coloured pantyhose in my bag.-- oneoffdave, Aug 15 2003 [Bris] Cosmesis is the general term for the exterior cosmetic skin of a limb. But in more general terms it means the preservation of bodily beauty, esp. the face-- oneoffdave, Aug 15 2003 I especially like the thinking about having the tanning agents be subdural.-- bristolz, Aug 15 2003 random, halfbakery