Cancer charity survey warns under 35s of overexposure to harmful UV rays
Sunbed users are increasing their chances of getting skin cancer by 75%, according to Cancer Research UK.
The charity surveyed 4,000 people and found the vast majority of sunbed users (82%) first soaked up the harmful rays before they were 35 years old.
The survey also unveiled that as many as one in three women have used a sunbed.
Rebecca Russell, Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign manager, said: "The results of our survey make for a stark warning to young people about the dangers of indoor tanning.
'You can't always see the damage that UV does straight away; it builds up over time. But every time you use a sunbed you are harming your skin and increasing your risk of skin cancer."
Professor Mike Richards, the Government's national cancer director, said: "The Cancer Reform Strategy explained the number of people getting skin cancer is rising rapidly.
"It is a matter of particular concern that even children may be getting access to sunbeds and it is also important that they should have information about the dangers of excessive exposure to UV."
Malignant melanoma, which can be fatal, is now the most common cancer in young adults between the age of 15 and 34.
Overall exposure to artificial ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunbeds is just as dangerous as staying out in the sunshine too long. The intensity of some of the UV rays can be 10 to 15 times higher than that of the midday sun.
Repeated exposure to UV damages DNA in skin cells, which increases the risk of skin cancer and makes skin age faster.
