A skincare expert said today that the number of people, particularly youngsters, ignoring health warnings and getting sunburnt on holiday was "extremely worrying."

Dr Lesley Rhodes, a dermatologist from Cancer Research UK, said cases of the deadly skin cancer malignant melanoma could treble over the next 30 years unless Brits start taking proper care when sunbathing.

A Cancer Research national survey showed that 30 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds say they will definitely get burnt on holiday this year, and another 30 per cent said they might.

She said: "I think these findings are extremely worrying - getting sunburnt doubles the chance of getting the fatal form of skin cancer, malignant melanoma.

"I think it's mainly down to a lack of understanding about certain things. It seems that people are now confused between being sunburnt and having a tan.

"We need to get more information to people, especially youngsters, and tell them that if they carry on with this lifestyle, they will have problems.

"It's interesting that parents worry so much when youngsters go away on holidays about alcohol and sex binges, but not at all about the sunbathing binges."

She added: "That trend can be slowed down but for that everyone needs to be worried about this, because it can affect anyone - there is a major risk factor in getting sunburnt."

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