The number of skin cancer cases has increased by almost a third in the past ten years.
Fallen off melanoma A record high of 20,800 is expected to be reached in Britain this year.
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The biggest spike occurred among those over 80, with the number of diagnoses increasing by 57 percent since 2014.
Only 17,000 skin cancer cases per year are preventable, Cancer Research UK reports.
It says that nine out of ten are caused by too much ultraviolet radiation from sunlight or artificial sources such as tanning beds.
There was also a seven percent increase in melanoma among 25 to 49 year olds, but experts are optimistic that younger people are now taking greater precautions to protect their skin.
The increase is believed to be due to both growing and aging populations, and better awareness of the signs of melanoma, leading to a higher diagnosis rate.
And although the number of cases has increased, survival rates have doubled in fifty years.
Michelle Mitchell, CEO of Cancer Research UK, said: “It is vital that people try to reduce their risk of getting it the sickness in the first place.
“Be careful in the sun and contact your doctor if you notice any unusual changes in your skin.”