The number of patients registered as diagnosed with melanoma annually has nearly trebled in two decades in the UK, according to new figures.
The latest figures show some 12,993 registrations in 2014 compared with 4,777 in 1995.
Although incidence rates have increased, the annual number of deaths has fallen thanks to improved detection and treatment. Last year there were more than 2,200 deaths, according to Office for National Statistics figures.
The statisticians say that, allowing for the ageing of the population, incidence rates have doubled in the two decades.
The analysis shows that skin cancer was the second most common cancer diagnosed in 2014 among young adults – aged from 15 to 49 – for men and for women.
Experts said "vigilance" to detect the disease remains vital.
Dr Christian Aldridge, a dermatologist who supports Melanoma UK, said: “Data collection on cancer registries has significantly improved since 1994 and thus the recording of a melanoma event is much more precise, which is contributing to increased reporting of Melanoma.
"This coupled with increased awareness, earlier presentation and continued health – promotion messages and the sequela of the sun burning episodes in the 1970s and 1980s, has seen melanoma numbers peaking as they are at present.
"Skin vigilance needs to continue, and if individuals have no-one at home to check their backs, for example, then they should see their GP to check their skin.”
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