People in the UK love a bit of sunshine and because they are so used to dreary weather, the majority of Brits don’t hesitate to strip off and make the most of a good day.

However, while lying on a beach or having a water balloon fight with your friends can seem like a great way to spend your day, there is a serious side to the sun. And, if individuals don’t respect it, their health is in danger.

Dr Dawn Harper, one of the doctors on Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies, said sun protection is an issue that needs to be taken seriously. Indeed, she visited the south Yorkshire city of Sheffield to bring this message home.

A recent survey found 60 per cent of residents in the city use out-of-date sun cream, while 55 per cent don’t apply lotion often enough when they are outside.

“Brits need to take sun protection seriously. Malignant melanoma is the fastest rising common cancer in the UK and is particularly high in younger people. Shockingly, allowing your child to play in the sun unprotected for just ten minutes is a much higher risk than allowing them to smoke a cigarette,” Dr Harper stated.

Because of this, the expert is encouraging people to “stay safe and slap on a capful” if they do plan to lie in the sun. Indeed, she remarked the regular use of sunscreen up until 18 years of age reduces the lifetime risk of non-melanoma skin cancers by 80 per cent.

Of course, there are other ways for people to stay protected. For example, they could have a bespoke shade structure created for their garden, which means they could still enjoy the sunshine while also staying safe.

These stylish and contemporary designs will brighten up a space and can cover almost anything – such as a small garden patio, an outdoor seating area or a swimming pool.

To find out more information about custom made shade sails, check out Shaded Nation’s website.

Children as young as six want to get a tan this summer, according to a new survey.

A poll carried out on behalf of Superdrug revealed that 50 per cent of youngsters aged between six and eight would like to have more tanned skin. What’s more, a third claimed they will sunbathe at every available opportunity.

These statistics are worrying, as they suggest a lack of awareness about the dangers of the sun in children across the country. Furthermore, the skin of youngsters is more vulnerable to sunburn and there is a link between getting burned as a child and developing skin cancer in later life.

A fifth of the kids surveyed said they plan to spend time out in the sun without applying any sun cream whatsoever.

“These findings are really alarming as they show that children have little regard or knowledge of the dangers of the sun, or the consequences of spending time in the burning sun without protection,” stated Richard Cryne, Superdrug’s sun care buyer.

He added that the average person receives 80 per cent of their life-time exposure to the sun before the age of 18, meaning that good childhood habits are essential when it comes to staying safe.

To try and raise awareness of this issue among children Superdrug is working alongside skin charity Skcin and the Sun Safe Schools campaign to spread the message about the dangers of sunburn.

To protect their children from the sun, an increasing number of schools, nurseries and families are installing sail shades. These constructions are specifically designed with sun safety in mind and can block out as much as 98.8 per cent of harmful UV rays.

Here at Shaded Nation, we have extensive experience in providing sail shades for a wide range of clients and can offer pre-made structures or bespoke designs depending on your requirements.

A sail shade allows you and your children to have the best of both worlds – enjoying the outdoors, while staying safe at the same time.

Whether it’s part of a full English breakfast, on the base of a pizza or in a sandwich, the tomato is a fine addition to any meal.

However, new research has revealed the humble fruit is more than just a tasty treat, as it may contain properties that help to combat sunburn.

Dietitian Juliette Kellow told the Mail Online that in a study of UK adults, those who ate five tablespoons of tomato puree each day were a third (33 per cent) more protected from the sun’s rays than those who didn’t.

This is because tomatoes contain the antioxidant lycopene, which gives them their red colour and also makes human skin more resistant to sunlight.

Somewhat surprisingly, processed and cooked tomatoes have more lycopene than fresh ones and your body finds it easier to absorb. The antioxidant is also present in pink grapefruit and watermelon.

That’s not the only thing tomatoes have got going for them, however. The study also found eating the fruit can boost levels of procollagen, which helps to prevent skin elasticity, ageing and wrinkles.

While the findings of this research are interesting, it’s important to remember consuming tomatoes will only go a small way to protecting your skin. Even if you eat the fruit for breakfast, lunch and tea the chances are you’ll still get burnt if you spend too long out in the sun without taking the necessary precautions.

This has been stressed by Nina Goad of the British Association of Dermatologists who commented: “Studies have shown that various foods may be able to provide limited protection.

“However, the level of protection is marginal and no ingredient has been identified that would act as a comparable substitute for conventional sun protection methods.”

The best way to stay safe in the sun is to stick to the shade. However, this doesn’t mean you have to be stuck indoors all day, as a shade sail structure from Shaded Nation lets you enjoy the best of both worlds.

Want to know more? Click here to find out.

People like to get out and about in the summer months, especially if the weather is good.

Whether it is going for nice walks in the country, checking out the local beach or simply buying a deckchair and enjoying the backyard, there are plenty of ways for individuals to make the most of the sun.

Stay safe in the sun

However, everyone needs to make sure they look after their health and protecting yourself from the sun’s harmful rays is a massive part of this. July is UV Awareness Month in the US, as organisations up and down the country seek to dispel some of the myths about the sun.

Lisa Richman, executive director of the Richard David Kann Melanoma Foundation, told the Palm Beach Post that the preventable disease claims the life of one person every 50 minutes.

“The sun is necessary for life. It gives us the light and heat we need to survive. However, too much exposure to UV rays from the sun can lead to skin cancer – especially melanoma, the deadliest form,” she added.

Don’t put your health at risk

There are a number of measures people can take to limit their chances of contracting skin cancer. These include covering up, wearing a hat and applying sun block to any unprotected measures.

Individuals are also encouraged to regularly check their skin after they’ve been out in the sun to make sure there are no changes in size, texture, shape and the colour of any blemishes they have.

A more long-term solution, however, would be to have a shade sail installed. The structure offers protection throughout the year and means individuals can enjoy the sun without worrying about getting burnt.

On top of the protection offered, the shades also add a stylish edge to any outdoor space and are perfect for both families and businesses. They come with UV stabilised thread, seat belt edged webbing and heavy duty, rust-proof marine-grade stainless steel rings.

Find out more about these cost-effective structures on the Shaded Nation website.

aking a dip in an oatmeal bath might not sound very appealing, but it could help to ease the painful effects of sunburn.

This is according to David Leffell, a professor of dermatology and surgery at Yale Medical School in the US.

Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, he said oatmeal contains both soothing and anti-inflammatory properties, which can combat the soreness and itchiness that often follows sunburn.

However, it’s important to ensure the bath is cooled before you get in, as getting scolded by hot water is the last thing you want if your skin is already burnt.

Dr Leffell also warned that some remedies that are commonly touted on the internet, such as applying tea leaves and yogurt, should be approached with caution as there is little scientific data to suggest they will have any sort of impact.

“My attitude in treating sunburn is that you can try this and that but the most important thing is to moisturise,” he stated.

The Yale professor recommended soothing sunburnt skin with a cream that contains aloe vera as this is more hydrating than some of the gel products that are on the market at the moment. Dr Leffell added that anyone whose skin develops large blisters or suffers from a fever after spending too long out in the sun should contact a doctor.

While taking a soak in an oatmeal bath might be a last resort if you’re suffering from a particularly sore burn, the best course of action is to do your best to avoid damaging your skin in the first place.

Relaxing under a shade sail structure is the perfect way to do this. These canopies are specifically designed to block the sun’s UV rays while providing a cool and pleasant space in which to enjoy the outdoors.

When you’re not being protected by a shade, make sure to cover your skin where possible and regularly apply sun lotion to any areas that are exposed.

This July is set to be a hot one, according to the UK Met Office .

Forecasters at the organisation have predicted low levels of rainfall and high temperatures for much of the UK over the next few weeks, which is sure to be welcome news for the majority of Brits.

A Met Office statement said: “There is reasonable confidence that high pressure will build, giving fine and dry weather across most parts of the UK from Friday (July 5th) onwards, with a mixture of variable cloud and sunshine.”

So, it would seem the sun is finally on its way after what has been a very miserable 12 months weather-wise. Last year’s summer was one of the wettest on record and was followed by a bitingly cold winter. That wasn’t all though, as many parts of the UK suffered from unusually low temperatures in spring, with snow still lining the ground in March and April in a lot of areas.

However, that is all just a memory now, so many people will be looking to make the most of this month’s good weather while it lasts and there are plenty of ways you can choose to enjoy the sunshine.

July is a great time of year for festivals and these events are a lot more fun when you’re not squelching about in the mud in your wellies. T in the Park, Wireless, Lovebox and Latitude are some of the more well known gatherings that will be taking place this month.

If festivals aren’t really your thing, why not make the most of the weather closer to home? There’s nothing better than having friends and family over for a BBQ in the sunshine and July looks like the time to do it.

However you choose to enjoy the heat, don’t let sunburn ruin your fun. A great way to stay safe is to install a garden shade sail. Not only will one of these canopies protect you from the sun’s rays, they look great and can boost the value of your home as well.

Sunday (July 7th 2013) was a pretty good day to be a Brit. Not only did Andy Murray become the first UK male to lift the Wimbledon trophy in 77 years, it was also the hottest 24 hours of 2013 so far.

According to the Met Office, a temperature of 29.7 degrees C was recorded at Hurn near Bournemouth, which beat the high of 29.1 degrees C that was set at Heathrow Airport a day earlier. Meanwhile, Murray worked his way to victory in a sweltering 29 degrees C, making his achievement all the more impressive.

The good news doesn’t end there though, as the Met Office believes it’s possible a new record temperature could be set in the coming days and it could even get above 30 degrees C in some parts of the south-west.

This isn’t going to be a flash in the pan either, as the organisation has claimed we are set for the longest spell of settled warm and sunny weather since July 2006.

Nick Grahame, chief forecaster at the Met Office, commented: “We have high pressure over the UK at the moment which normally brings us fine and settled weather at this time of year.

“The current outlook suggests this may be dominating our weather through next week and possibly out towards the middle of July.”

So, with the sun set to stay for the next few weeks it’s important to make sure you get outside and make the most of it. If you enjoyed watching Murray’s triumph on Sunday, why not give it a go yourself?

There are plenty of tennis courts across the UK and hiring a racket is generally not too expensive. If you don’t have anywhere suitable to play nearby, there’s always the garden, just make sure you keep things gentle to avoid smashing any windows!

Of course, with such hot weather the risk of sunburn is greatly increased and it’s important to stay protected. One way to do so is to relax and take it easy under a Shaded Nation shade sail.

We all know that humans can get health problems from being exposed to the sun for too long, but it might surprise you to learn that pets are vulnerable as well.

When the weather is especially hot, dogs, cats and smaller animals like rabbits can suffer from sunburn and heat stroke in much the same way we do. Many people consider their pets to be part of the family and would be horrified if they knew they could be putting their health at risk by leaving them out in the sun for too long.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) has acknowledged this problem in a recent statement. It said: “Even a hot garden without shade can be disastrous for an animal.”

However, protecting your pets is easy, as installing a garden shade sail is the ideal way to keep them safe during the summer. These structures are specifically manufactured to block up to 98.8 per cent of harmful UV rays and provide a cool, shaded spot under which your dog or cat can rest out of the sun.

They’re not just for pets though, and are a great way for the whole family to enjoy being outside without having to worry about the threat of sunburn.

The RSPCA also warned dog owners about the danger of leaving their pet in a car on a hot day. The temperature inside a vehicle is much higher than outside and can reach 47 degrees C within just 60 minutes even if the external temperature is only 22 degrees C.

Sadly, many dogs die of heatstroke after being exposed to these conditions and simply leaving a bowl of water or opening a window is not sufficient to protect them.

With this is in mind, it is much better to keep your pet at home where it can relax in the shade of the garden if possible. If this isn’t an option, you could always leave them with a friend, relative or in the care of a kennels.

There’s a common misconception that sunburn is only really something to worry about while off on holiday in a hot country such as Spain and Greece.

However, while you are more likely to get burnt in a nation where the weather is naturally warmer, this doesn’t mean you aren’t at risk in the UK as well. Many Brits come down with a nasty case of sunburn while at home in the summer months and this can be just a*s painful and damaging to your health as being burnt while abroad.

This is all the more true when the weather is at hot as it has been in recent days – reaching close to 30 degrees C in some parts of the country.

The need to be aware of sunburn and take the necessary precautions has recently been stressed by councillor Christine Lawrence, who is in charge of health and wellbeing at Somerset County Council.

“Sunburn doesn’t just happen while we’re abroad – more than half the people suffering with sunburn are burnt here in the UK, so everyone needs to be aware whether they’re going away this summer or enjoying time off with the children at home,” she told the Somerset County Gazette.

Avoiding sunburn is hugely important, because it is scientifically proven that getting burnt makes people more likely to develop skin cancer. Figures from Somerset County Council show 500 people in the region were diagnosed with this disease between 2008 and 2012, which makes it the eighth highest out of 151 NHS Primary Care Trust areas.

Dr Ulrike Harrower, a consultant in public health at the council, said suffering a painful burn just once in two years can triple a person’s chances of getting skin cancer, so it really is important to stay protected.

Want to make the most of the Great British summer without feeling the painful effects of sunburn? Install a shade sail– the perfect shade solution for homes, businesses, schools and a whole host of other locations.

The UK has been blessed with some fantastic weather in the opening months of July, but it seems a worrying number of people may be letting sunburn spoil their fun.

A new survey by Asda has revealed a shocking 73 per cent of Brits got burnt last week (July 8th-14th 2013).

The supermarket undertook the research as part of its Don’t Get Burnt campaign, which is being carried out with the British Skin Foundation and aims to raise awareness about the dangers of being exposed to strong sunlight.

With nearly three-quarters of the 1,072 people surveyed admitting they got burnt, it’s unsurprising Asda reported a 281 per cent increase in aftersun sales, as well as a 158 per cent rise in the number of aloe vera products being bought.

Furthermore, researchers from the supermarket recently visited Brighton beach and found that just five per cent of people enjoying the sunshine were wearing any form of suncream whatsoever. This is despite the temperature reaching 23 degrees C.

While it’s perfectly understandable that Brits want to make the most of the warm weather, getting burnt can do more than simply make your skin go an embarrassing and uncomfortable shade of red.

Sunburn is scientifically proven to increase the chances of contracting skin cancer and the level of risk is particularly severe in children.

Healthcare expert Dr Dawn Harper, who is supporting Asda’s campaign, commented: “Shockingly, allowing your child to play in the sun unprotected is a much higher risk than allowing them to smoke a cigarette – just ten minutes in strong sun can be all it takes for the sun’s UVB rays to burn the skin.”

While the figures revealed by Asda are undoubtedly worrying, the good news is that staying safe in the sun is easy. Keeping your skin covered where possible and regularly applying sun cream will go a long way to ensuring you’re protected.

Another great way to stay safe is to relax underneath a shade sail, these canopies are manufactured to block up to 98.8 per cent of harmful UV rays and represent the ideal way to enjoy the outdoors.