R UV UGLY?

Cancer Research UK’s R UV UGLY? campaign, is coming to Manchester Arndale this February (24 – 26) to urge shoppers to face the invisible damage inflicted on their appearance in pursuit of a tan.
 
The campaign aims to raise awareness about the skin damage, premature ageing and health dangers of using sunbeds. Manchester is being targeted due its high concentration of sunbed outlets. With around 55 outlets, the city is within the top quarter of all local authorities in England. That is over 12 sunbed outlets per 100,000 people.
 
In response, the R UV UGLY? roadshow is offering shoppers exclusive free skin scans via a custom-built, state-of-the-art photo booth. Equipped with specialist skin-scanning technology, the photobooth will give visitors a close up of hidden damage lurking beneath the skin’s surface caused by over exposure to UV, both from sunbeds and the sun.
 
Cancer Research UK has teamed up with skin specialists, sk:n, who will be on hand to offer a detailed account of the damage picked up by the UV scanner.
 
After being ‘snapped’ in the booth, visitors will be able to take their skin scan portrait photograph away, along with specialist advice about the results, and goodie bags from both sk:n and fake tan brand Vita Liberata.
 
The R UV UGLY? roadshow comes as rates of malignant melanoma – the most serious form of skin cancer - have tripled amongst 15-34 year olds in the North West since the mid 1980s. More than two people in this age group are now diagnosed with the disease each week.

Rates of malignant melanoma in 15-34 year olds in the region are significantly higher than average rates in England for the same age group.
 
Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh has commented on the campaign: “Young people should be paying more attention to the risks of skin cancer, as using a sunbed isn’t the answer for looking young and healthy. Premature ageing, sun damage and skin cancer aren’t a joke. I think Cancer Research UK’s challenge to people in Manchester to have a skin scan, will definitely help change perceptions about sunbeds.”

Not only do sunbeds make you look old and wrinkly before your time, figures worryingly show that using a sunbed for the first time before the age of 35 increases the risk of malignant melanoma by 75 per cent.
 
Chris Lunn, SunSmart Campaign Manager at Cancer Research UK, said: “We hope people in Manchester will come and get snapped in our special photo booth so they can see the damage that using sunbeds can have on their looks. By seeing this first hand, it will hopefully convince them and their friends and family that they don’t need to use sunbeds in the future.
 
“As well as increasing your risk of skin cancer, sunbeds could leave you with wrinkles, leathery skin and age spots – looking older than you are.  If you must have a tan, faking it is always the best option.”  

Last year, the charity worked with Nicola Roberts to help support new legislation in England and Wales preventing under 18s from using sunbeds. The charity is investigating if these measures need to be enforced more strongly in certain parts of the UK.
 
The R UV UGLY? roadshow will be in residence in Excahnge Court on the lower mall outside Next Friday 24 to Sunday 26 February. 
 
For those who can’t attend the roadshow but would like to book an R UV UGLY? scan at their local sk:n clinic, please call either 0121 5678 111 or 0800 822 3037 quoting R UV UGLY? or visit www.mepls.com/ruvugly for further information. To find your nearest sk:n clinic visit www.sknclinics.co.uk