People unaware of skin cancer risks, UK study finds

A new study from the British Association of Dermatologists, published Monday, highlights that 96 per cent of UK adults fail to check themselves regularly for skin cancer and that 77 per cent wouldn't be able to recognize signs of the disease.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK. Rates have been rising steadily since 1960 and currently 250,000 new cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed annually.

Yet, according to the study of 1018 adults, 72 per cent admitted to getting sunburned in the past 12 months and therefore increasing their risk of developing a melanoma.

Johnathon Major of the British Association of Dermatologists said: "This is a reflection of poor sun protection habits -- people underestimate the damage that sunburn can do to their skin, and many think that skin reddening is just a harmless part of the tanning process, rather than a sure sign that you have damaged your skin irreparably."