20pct recession-hit Brits planning sunbed holiday

London, May 11 (ANI): The ongoing recession has forced British people to give up sunny holidays and spend more time under tanning lamps, according to a poll.

Almost a third of people surveyed by YouGov have revealed that they were less likely to go on a sunny summer holiday, and almost 19 pct sunbed users plan to spend more time under tanning lamps.

The charity, which runs an annual SunSmart campaign, has warned of the lifetime skin damage caused by sunbeds.

SunSmart campaign manager Katy Scammell said that the intensity of some UV rays from sunbeds could be up to 15 times higher than that of the midday sun.

Moreover, using a sunbed more than once a month or more could increase the risk of skin cancer by more than half.

"Exposure to these rays increases your risk of melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer," the Daily Express quoted Scammell as saying.

"Not only do the harmful rays increase your risk of skin cancer, but they also lead to premature ageing and the appearance of lines, wrinkles and coarse, leathery skin," she added. (ANI)