A NEW campaign has been launched to raise awareness of the dangers of sun damage and tanning.

The drive, which includes three hard-hitting videos including one featuring a father and former soldier in his 50s, aims to encourage people to think before they tan.

Asking ‘how much is enough?’, the campaign delivers key facts including:

  • One blistering sunburn in childhood or adolescence doubles the risk of melanoma
  • Regular use of sunbeds before the age of 30 can increase the risk of melanoma by 75 per cent
  • Melanoma is the fifth most common cancer amongst men in the UK.

Simon Rodwell, CEO of Melanoma Focus, which is running the campaign with Altruist Sunscreen, added: “As a charity we carry out research and provide accessible information about melanoma to the public. Once melanoma spreads within the body it is a very difficult disease to fight so there is no doubt that prevention is better than cure.

“These films are designed to encourage people to stop and think before taking risks in the sun, as well as giving advice for protecting themselves to prevent over-exposure and sun damage.”

Andrew Birnie, consultant dermatologist and skin cancer expert, added: “Whilst some skin cancers can be relatively benign this isn’t the case with all and, in particular, malignant melanoma; it can, and does, turn peoples’ lives upside down.

“This series of films has been designed to showcase the impact skin cancer can have on both the lives of those diagnosed with it and their loved ones. We hope it will make people think twice before they  spend time unprotected in the sun.”

Follow the hashtag #howmuchisenough and see the video here.

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