IT’S common knowledge that sun damage can increase your risk of developing skin cancer.
But experts have warned that it takes a scarily low number of sunburns in your lifetime to make you vulnerable to – a particularly deadly form of the disease.
Susanna Daniels, CEO of Melanoma Focus, said: “We know that more than five sunburns in your lifetime doubles your risk of melanoma, so burning every year has potentially long-term dangerous consequences.”;
Her warning comes after new data published by the showed that an alarming 49 per cent of Brits people suffer from at least once every year.
Respondents were asked how often each year they got sunburnt – either from sizzling under the sun or baking in sunbeds.
It emerged that 65 per cent of 18 to 32-year-olds tended to catch too much sun at least once a year – upping their risk of deadly melanoma further.
The survey also found that 36 per cent of Brits rarely or never apply sunscreen when in the UK during the months.
Men were most guilty of shirking sun protection, as 42 per cent of them admitted to skipping sun cream.
The charity said these findings were worrying, especially as melanoma rates continue to climb in the UK.
There are around 17,500 new melanoma skin cancer cases in the UK every year, making it the fifth most common cancer in the country.
According to , one in 35 men and one in 41 women in the UK will now be diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in their lifetime.
Melanoma is considered the most serious form of skin cancer because it has the highest mortality rate, and deaths from melanoma are projected to continue to rise.
Susanna warned: “Nearly nine in 10 melanomas are preventable yet the UK has more deaths from melanoma per year than .
“It is essential that everyone understands the risks associated with sunburn and prioritises sun protection by using , wearing a hat, seeking shade and covering up in the heat of the day.”;
Professor Catherine Harwood, consultant dermatologist and Melanoma Focus Trustee added: “Sunburn significantly increases the likelihood of developing skin cancer later in life.
“The fact that so many people are burning their skin and not using sunscreen regularly is concerning.
“With the number of cases of melanoma on the rise in the UK, it is more important than ever for the public to take preventive measures.”;
The survey did reveal that 56 per cent of respondents would be more likely to use sunscreen regularly if it was cheaper and 77 per cent thought sunscreen should be exempt from VAT.
Of those who say they don’t wear sunscreen in the UK in the summer months, 8 per cent said it was because it was too expensive.
‘Not worth it for a tan’
Typical symptoms of melanoma tend to be a new mole or an existing mole that seems to be changing size, shape or colour.
Other signs to look out for include moles that are swollen and sore, itchy, crusty or bleeding.
They can appear anywhere on the body, but they most frequently pop up in areas often exposed to the sun.
It can be helpful to keep the ABCDE acronym in mind to spot worrying skin changes.
- Asymmetry:two halves of the mole differ in shape
- Border:the edges are irregular or jagged
- Colour:it’s uneven or patchy and you can see shades of black, white, grey, brown or pink; two or more colours means the mole could be suspicious
- Diameter:for most melanomas, at least 6mm
- Evolving:changing in size, shape or colour
Hannah Lowery, age 32 from Redcar in , was diagnosed with melanoma skin cancer in July 2024.
She said: “When I was younger we didn’t have so much awareness of the risks of skin cancer.
“My parents were strict about me wearing sunscreen when we were abroad but, as a teenager, I didn’t use it in the UK and I used to burn quite a lot.
“Last year I went to my GP because I had two moles on my neck which I noticed had changed shape.
“I was sent for an urgent referral and it turned out I had melanoma and both moles had to be removed.
“I was very lucky that the melanoma hadn’t spread but it was a terrifying experience.
“I was only 31 and I had a two year old son. It’s really not worth it for a tan.”;
