SKIN cancer rates have increased by almost a third over the past decade.
Cases of melanoma are projected to reach a record high of 20,800 in Britain this year.
The biggest spike has been in the over-80s, with diagnoses soaring by 57 per cent since 2014.
But 17,000 skin cancer cases every year are preventable, Cancer Research UK reports.
It says nine in ten are caused by too much ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or artificial sources such as tanning beds.
There was also a seven per cent rise in melanoma in 25 to 49-year-olds but experts are optimistic younger people are now taking greater precautions to protect their skin.
The rise is thought to be due to both the growing and ageing population, and a better awareness of the signs of melanoma leading to a higher diagnosis rate.
And while cases have grown, survival rates have doubled in 50 years.
Michelle Mitchell, chief executive at Cancer Research UK, said: “It’s vital that people try to reduce their risk of getting the disease in the first place.
“Take care in the sun and contact your GP if you notice unusual changes to your skin.”
