Shaded Nation

One of the best things about summer is that it’s the ideal time to both watch and play sports.

Indeed, there aren’t many better ways to spend a sunny day than engaging or viewing your favourite game, be it football, tennis, rugby or any other sporting activity.

However, it’s also important to take sun safety into concern. It can be easy to forget about sunburn while you’re caught up in a game, but should you fail to stay protected you may suffer some painful and uncomfortable consequences.

The need for sports fans to be safe in the sun has been recognised by the University of Manchester and Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust’s dermatology research team.

They have launched a new awareness event about the issue ahead of rugby league club Salford Reds’ clash with the Leeds Rhinos on August 9th. It will see the organisations provide advice on skin safety and education on how to check for moles and other potential signs of cancer.

Professor Chris Griffiths, professor of dermatology at The University of Manchester and consultant dermatologist at Salford Royal, commented: “We may associate a tan with looking healthy, but it’s actually the opposite – a tan is a sign that skin has been damaged.”

“UVA rays attack the tissues that give our skin its elasticity, leading to premature ageing and wrinkling, while UVB rays affect the top layers of our skin, causing sunburn and, in the worst cases, skin cancer,” he added.

However, Prof Griffiths said people can still enjoy the sun provided they take the necessary measures to protect themselves. These include covering up with long clothing and a hat, applying sunscreen of at least factor 30 (factor 50 for children or people with pale skin) and sticking to the shade between 11am and 3pm.

You can follow Professor Griffiths advice by installing a shade sail, as these canopies can block up to 98.8 per cent of harmful UV rays.

Furthermore, here at Shade Nation we are experienced at providing shade structures for sporting venues, contact us to learn more.