New survey reveals that Britons are burning in the sun

A survey released today has revealed that a huge amount of people in the UK have exposed themselves to dangerous amounts of sun this summer.

The survey of 2,000 people revealed that nearly half of them suffered sunburn this summer. More worrying for health experts is the fact that many admitted that they would do it again in order to achieve a sun tan. Earlier this summer we brough you news about a similar survey that revealed that 26% of teenagers were willing to burn this summer in order to get a sun tan.

This recent research was backed by pharmaceutical company Superdrug and Cancer Research UK. 46% of the people who took the survey said that they had been sunburnt during the holiday season this year. Of all the people who had been sunburnt, 34% said that although they would be a little more careful next year, they would still be prepared to risk burning in order to become bronze.

“People aren’t taking these risks seriously enough”

“Sunburn is a clear sign that your skin has been damaged in ways that can lead to skin cancer, a disease that’s affecting more and more people in the UK” said Ed Yong, who is head of health information at Cancer Research UK. “While it’s important to enjoy the sun safely to get enough vitamin D, there are risks involved in long exposures. And these results indicate that people aren’t taking these risks seriously enough.”

More than 10,300 cases of malignant melanoma are diagnosed each year in the UK. People who are overexposed to the Sun’s rays run a higher risk on suffering from the potentially fatal condition. This form of cancer is the fastest growing in the UK, however around 1 in 3 people surveyed last month revealed that they hadn’t taken steps to protect their skin this year.

Damage

“Put simply, the more time people spend in the sun, the more damage they are doing to their skin, and they should seriously ask themselves whether it’s a risk they’re prepared to take” said Superdrug’s superintendent pharmacist Martin Crisp.

There are other, less dangerous ways, for people to achieve a tan all year round. Tanning sprays and lotions are a perfectly safe way to appear bronzed without risking sunburn, or the more serious danger of skin cancer. Anybody who is worried about any issues concerning sun exposure are advised to consult with a medical professional.