Women under 30s warned against cancer caused by 'Binge Tanning'

London, Apr 8 (ANI): "Binge tanning" and excessive sunbed use have made melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, the most common disease for women in their 20s, cautioned a charity.

A survey of 4,000 people carried out last year has revealed that 340 women in their 20s are annually diagnosed with malignant melanoma, indicating a rate of almost one a day.

The above figure is almost double the number found to have breast cancer in the same age bracket.

The survey also found that one in three women has used a sunbed at some point, and a big 80 percent of them first used one before the age of 35 years.

"Spending time on sunbeds is just as dangerous as staying out too long in sun," Sky News quoted Caroline Cerny, campaign manager for Cancer Research UK's SunSmart campaign, as saying.

"Sunbeds don't offer a safe way to tan. The intensity of UV rays in some sunbeds can be more than 10 times stronger than the midday sun.

"Excessive exposure to UV damages the DNA in skin cells which increases the risk of skin cancer and makes skin age faster.

"But, importantly, if people take care not to burn in the sun and don't use sunbeds, the majority of malignant melanoma could be prevented," she added. (ANI)