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Experts at Cancer Research have revealed that binge tanning on sunbeds and foreign holidays is leading to a dramatic increase in cases of skin cancer in young women.

Malignant melanoma, the deadliest form of the disease, is now the most common form of cancer in women in their 20s, with twice as many cases in this age range as breast cancer.

Skin cancer is now set to become the fourth most common cancer overall by the year 2024.

Cancer Research UK’s director of health information Sara Hiom said it is extremely worrying to see so many young girls using sunbeds.

"Young skin is delicate and so easily damaged by the sun. Damage from UV builds up over time. Every time young people use a sunbed they are harming their skin and increasing their risk of skin cancer," she added.

Around 9,000 cases of malignant melanoma are diagnosed in the UK each year, 340 of which occur in women in their 20s.

The first sign of the disease is usually the appearance of a new mole, or a change in appearance to an existing mole.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 8th, 2009 at 4:01 pm and is filed under Cancer.