UK Melanoma Cases Hit a Record High. Here's What to Do About It.

Rates of melanoma — the deadliest form of skin cancer — have reached an all-time high in the UK. Nearly 21,000 Britons are diagnosed with melanoma each year, and the disease kills around 2,500 annually. Cases have risen by almost a third over the past decade.

The charity warns cases are set to soar further, potentially reaching 26,500 new diagnoses per year by 2040. More than 80% of melanoma cases are preventable, as the primary cause is overexposure to ultraviolet light from the sun and sunbeds.

This is not a story about an unavoidable disease becoming more common. It is a story about a preventable disease that is still not being adequately prevented — despite decades of public health messaging, widely available sunscreen, and clear evidence about what works.

With temperatures expected to reach 30°C in parts of the UK this bank holiday weekend, Cancer Research UK has issued an urgent call to action. Here is what that action actually looks like in practice.

TL;DR

• Nearly 21,000 Britons are now diagnosed with melanoma every year — an all-time record. Cases have risen by almost a third in a decade. Deaths are around 2,500 annually.
• More than 80% of melanoma cases are preventable. Almost 9 in 10 melanomas are caused by exposure to too much UV radiation from the sun or sunbeds.
• The biggest rise is in adults over the age of 80 — though the upward trend is seen across all age groups.
• Getting sunburned once every two years can triple the risk of skin cancer.
• Despite the spike in cases, deaths from melanoma are expected to fall due to improvements in early diagnosis and treatment. Almost 9 in 10 adults diagnosed in England now survive 10 years or more.
• The most effective protective measures — shade between 11am and 3pm, clothing, SPF 30 or above with 4 or 5 star UVA protection, reapplied every two hours — are accessible to everyone.
• Sunbeds raise melanoma risk by 75% and have no safe use case.

Why Cases Are Rising When Prevention Is This Simple

The most striking aspect of the record melanoma figures is the gap they reveal between knowledge and behaviour.

Cancer Research UK CEO Michelle Mitchell described it as concerning to see diagnoses rising, emphasising that most cases are preventable. The tools to prevent melanoma — sunscreen, shade, clothing, sunglasses — are inexpensive, widely available, and well-understood. The prevention rate should be higher than it is.

Several factors drive the gap. Sunburn on overcast or cool days catches people unaware — the assumption that cloud cover means no UV risk is one of the most consistent causes of unintended exposure in the UK. Fiona Osgun, head of health information at Cancer Research UK, stressed that sunburn can occur even on cooler, cloudier days.

Application errors reduce the protection most people think they have. Most people apply approximately a quarter of the sunscreen volume used in SPF testing — meaning an SPF 30 applied at typical volume provides closer to SPF 8 to 10 in practice. The number on the bottle is only accurate if the right amount is applied.

Sunbed use persists despite clear and consistent evidence. Sunbeds raise melanoma risk by 75%. There is no safe level of sunbed use and no cosmetic benefit that justifies this risk. Self-tanning products using DHA provide cosmetic colour without DNA damage and are the appropriate alternative.

The oldest age group showing the biggest rise — adults over 80 — reflects cumulative lifetime UV exposure that was largely unprotected in earlier decades when sun safety messaging was less established. This population is now presenting with melanomas that began developing from sun exposure decades ago. It is a reminder that skin cancer risk is cumulative — damage from individual exposures adds up over a lifetime, and it is never too late to start protecting skin.

What the Rise Does Not Mean: The Survival Story

The record case numbers warrant concern. The survival data warrants equal attention.

Despite the spike in cases, deaths from melanoma are expected to fall due to improvements in early diagnosis and treatment. Almost 9 in 10 adults diagnosed in England now survive 10 years or more.

Ten-year survival for melanoma has improved dramatically — from 46% in the 1970s to 92.7% in 2018. This improvement reflects two developments: earlier stage diagnosis through improved awareness of warning signs, and the arrival of immunotherapy and targeted therapy that have transformed outcomes for advanced melanoma.

This survival data is not an argument for complacency about prevention. Melanoma that is caught at stage 1 has a near-perfect survival rate. Stage 4 melanoma, despite the immunotherapy revolution, still has a significantly worse prognosis. Prevention and early detection remain the most powerful tools available — not because treatment has failed, but because prevention at the beginning is categorically better than even the best treatment later.

How to Check Your Skin: What to Look For

Earlier diagnosis is the key to improved survival. Checking skin regularly and knowing what to look for is the most important thing individuals can do to ensure early detection.

The ABCDE criteria are the most widely used framework for assessing moles:

Asymmetry — one half of the mole is unlike the other half.

Border — irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred edges.

Colour — variation in colour — shades of brown, black, sometimes white, red, or blue — within the same mole.

Diameter — greater than 6mm (roughly the diameter of a pencil eraser), though melanomas can be smaller.

Evolving — any mole that is changing in size, shape, colour, or that begins to bleed, itch, or crust.

The evolving criterion is arguably the most important in practice. A stable mole that has looked the same for years is generally low risk. A mole that is changing — in any direction — warrants assessment by a GP without delay.

A quick check of the legs and feet, particularly for older patients, should be a routine part of self-examination. The lower limb is the most common site for melanoma in women. The trunk is the most common site in men. Both are areas that can go unexamined if skin checks are not systematic.

Any skin change that concerns you — including new lesions, unusual spots, or moles that do not look like any others on your body (the "ugly duckling" sign) — should be assessed by a GP. In most cases the answer will be reassuring. In the cases where it is not, early assessment makes the most significant difference to outcomes.

The Evidence-Based Protection Framework

Cancer Research UK's updated guidance for this bank holiday weekend — and for the summer ahead — is straightforward:

Shade between 11am and 3pm. This is the window when UV intensity peaks in the UK. Outdoor activities before 11am and after 3pm significantly reduce UV exposure without restricting enjoyment of the weather.

SPF 30 or above with 4 or 5 star UVA rating. Apply sunscreen with at least SPF 30 and 4 or 5 stars generously and regularly — including once-a-day and water-resistant products. The star rating or UVA circle symbol confirms protection against UVA — the wavelength that penetrates deeper into skin and contributes significantly to melanoma risk. An SPF number alone confirms only UVB protection.

Apply enough and reapply. For the full body, approximately 35ml — six to eight teaspoons — is required to achieve the labelled SPF. Most people apply a quarter of this amount, significantly reducing effective protection. Reapply every two hours during outdoor exposure and after swimming or towel-drying — regardless of whether the product is labelled once-daily or water-resistant.

Cover up. Cover up with clothes, a wide-brimmed hat and UV protection sunglasses. Clothing is the most reliable protection for the areas it covers. Wrap-around or close-fitting sunglasses with UV400 marking protect both the eyes and the delicate skin around them.

Check the UV index. Most weather apps display the UV index alongside temperature. Protection is needed when the UV index reaches 3 or above. During a UK heatwave, values regularly reach 7 to 8 — classified as high. UV damage can occur even on cloudy days if the index is elevated.

Never use sunbeds. Sunbeds raise melanoma risk by 75%. There is no safe use case. Self-tanning products provide the cosmetic result without the DNA damage.

The Specific Risk of Occasional Sunburn

Getting sunburned once every two years can triple the risk of skin cancer.

This finding is important because it reframes the sunburn conversation. The damage does not require sustained or deliberate tanning — it accumulates through occasional, possibly infrequent episodes of overexposure that individually seem minor. The bank holiday sunburn that fades in a week and is forgotten adds to a lifetime accumulation of DNA damage that increases melanoma risk significantly.

The UK bank holiday weekend represents one of the highest-risk periods for unintended sunburn in the year — the combination of high motivation to spend time outdoors, unfamiliarity with the current UV levels after winter months, and the false reassurance of intermittently cloudy skies creates conditions where overexposure is common.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are melanoma cases at a record high in the UK?

Melanoma rates have increased by almost a third over the past decade. Nearly 21,000 Britons are diagnosed annually — an all-time high — with the biggest rise seen in adults over 80. The primary cause is cumulative UV exposure from the sun and sunbeds over a lifetime. Improved detection methods may also mean some cases are being identified that would previously have been missed. Despite rising cases, survival rates have improved significantly due to better early detection and new treatments.

Can melanoma be prevented?

More than 80% of melanoma cases are preventable. Almost 9 in 10 melanomas are caused by overexposure to UV radiation from the sun or sunbeds. The preventive measures — consistent SPF 30 or above with 4 or 5 star UVA protection, shade between 11am and 3pm, protective clothing, and avoiding sunbeds entirely — are accessible to everyone.

How often should I check my skin for melanoma?

Monthly self-examination is a reasonable routine — systematically checking all areas of skin including the back, scalp, between toes, and under nails. Use the ABCDE criteria and pay particular attention to moles that are changing. Any skin change that concerns you — new lesions, changing moles, spots that bleed or itch — should be assessed by a GP promptly.

Does sunburn really increase skin cancer risk?

Getting sunburned once every two years can triple the risk of skin cancer. UV damage from sunburn accumulates over a lifetime. Individual episodes that fade quickly still contribute to cumulative DNA damage that increases melanoma risk. This includes sunburn in childhood and adolescence.

Are sunbeds safe in moderation?

No. Sunbeds raise melanoma risk by 75%. There is no safe level of sunbed use — the UV exposure is intentional and concentrated. Self-tanning products using DHA provide cosmetic colour without UV exposure and are the safe alternative.

What SPF should I use during a heatwave?

During a UK heatwave when the UV index reaches 7 to 8, SPF 50 with 5 star UVA protection is appropriate. Apply generously — approximately half a teaspoon for the face and 35ml for the full body — and reapply every two hours outdoors. Combine with shade between 11am and 3pm and clothing covering shoulders and neck.

The Bottom Line

The record melanoma figures announced this week are a preventable public health failure — not an inevitable consequence of living in a sunnier climate. More than 80% of cases are caused by overexposure to UV radiation that is within individual control.

The bank holiday weekend that arrives with this news is, statistically, one of the highest-risk periods for unintended sun damage of the year. The evidence-based response is not to stay indoors — it is to combine shade, clothing, and correctly applied broad-spectrum SPF 30 or above into a layered protection approach that makes outdoor enjoyment and skin health compatible.

The survival improvement — from 46% ten-year survival in the 1970s to 92.7% today — shows what early detection and modern treatment can achieve. But the best version of this story is one where the case numbers are falling, not rising. That outcome is achievable. The tools are available. The behaviour change is the gap.

For a detailed guide to what UV damage actually does to skin at a cellular level and what the evidence shows about SPF, UVA, and application, read our full sun protection guide: Sun Protection: What SPF Numbers Actually Mean. Pair these habits with daily check-ins inside Reset Companion to stay accountable to a layered sun-safety routine through the summer.

Related reading: Sun Protection: What SPF Numbers Actually Mean · Is It the Sun or Your Age That's Damaging Your Skin? · Cortisol Explained — and How to Reduce It Without Making Things Worse

Popular Articles