Skin cancer healthcare plan may be needed as half of Brits get sunburnt

Almost half of all Brits sustained sunburn this summer, raising the possibility of needing a healthcare plan to treat skin cancer.

A survey commissioned by Cancer Research UK and Superdrug found that 46 per cent of people in Britain got sunburnt this year.

Of these, 32 per cent did so while trying to get a tan, half of whom said they would be happy to risk getting burnt again next year to darken their skin.

Ed Yong, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, said the results of the poll show that people are not taking the risks associated with sunburn seriously enough.

"Getting painful sunburn just once every two years can triple the risk of melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer. Whether at home or abroad, use shade, clothing and plenty of sunscreen to protect yourself," he said.

The survey indicated that many people underestimated the damaging effects of sun exposure, with two in three people who got sunburnt doing so when they were not even trying to get a tan.

Of these, 41 per cent said they did not realise the sun was strong enough to burn them.

More than 10,300 cases of malignant melanoma are diagnosed in the UK every year.

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