Skin cancer still a burning issue as poll shows warnings ignored

Published on Sunday 4 May 2008 22:36

YOUNG people are risking their lives by indulging in "binge tanning", a charity has warned.

More than a third of under-25s spend more than five hours a day in the sun on holiday, increasing their chances of developing life-threatening skin cancer, it said.

And many are willing to employ a range of tricks, including using baby oil, to speed up their tanning.

The poll, for Cancer Research UK, found that 36 per cent of 15-24-year-olds spend more than five hours a day in the sun.

Around one in three would use sunscreen with a low factor to speed up tanning, 19 per cent would be happy to go without sunscreen altogether and 15 per cent would use products like baby oil.

Around one in five thinks getting sunburnt is just part of the tanning process, while 11 per cent would be prepared to burn if they did not feel tanned enough towards the end of their holiday. Of the under-25s surveyed, 39 per cent actually said they would be upset if they came back from their summer holiday without a tan.

Professor Lesley Rhodes, a Cancer Research UK dermatologist, said: "Exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun is the primary cause of skin cancer and responsible for around 80 per cent of cases of melanoma, the most dangerous kind of skin cancer.

"Put simply, the more time young people are spending in the sun, the more damage they are doing to their skin."

The survey, of 576 people aged 15 to 34, also found that it was not just teenagers who take part in "binge tanning".

One in five (19 per cent) in this age group admitted spending more than five hours in the sun, with 16 per cent saying they would increase the amount of time spent in the sun towards the end of their holiday to improve their tan.

The poll comes after the charity warned that people under 35 who use sunbeds are increasing their risk of skin cancer by up to 75 per cent.

The actress and TV presenter Denise van Outen has said she scarred her face through using sunbeds when she was younger. The 33-year-old has said she began using the tanning beds in her teenage years and became addicted.

New guidelines from the Health and Safety Executive, still open to consultation, suggest a ban on sunbeds for under-18s.

Rebecca Russell, SunSmart campaign manager at Cancer Research UK, said: "Sunburn can double the risk of melanoma. People who spend their summer holidays outdoors should remember to enjoy their time safely and use sun protection.

"If you are desperate, the best option is to fake it – it's the only way to get a tanned appearance without causing damage."