Northern women are more likely tosuffer from skin cancer because they use sunbeds 'to look like their favourite celebrities' *.Rates of melanoma hadpreviously been highest in the south of England *.But cases in women ages between 10 and 29 have drastically risen in north *.Experts say that aside from sunbeds, cheap holidays abroad are to blame

Women from the north of England are more likely to be diagnosed with the deadliest form of skin cancer than their southern counterparts because of sunbeds and cheap holidays abroad, a study has found. Rates of melanoma - the most lethal form of cancer - had previously been highest in affluent areas of the south where the hours of sunshine are longer, according to research published today in the British Journal of Dermatology. But cases in women aged between 10 and 29 have drastically risen in the north west of the country - with experts blaming young women's overuse of sunbeds to try and look like their favourite celebrities.Research leader Sarah Wallingford, from the University of Manchester's Institute for Inflammation and Repair, says the findings suggest that affordability of holidays to warmer climates has been important factor in changing the regional discrepancy in melanoma rates. The study examined diagnoses of melanoma over eleven years from 1996 to 2006. Researchers at the Universityof Manchester also found that the disease was found to be most prevalent among the second most deprived socioeconomic group as well as the second most affluent groups.Nina Goad, of the British Association of Dermatologists, said: 'This study is interestingas it changes our views on two important risk factors for skin cancer – where we live and how rich we are. 'Latitudinal position in England has long been associated withrisk levels for skin cancer, with southern regions always having the highest rates of the disease. But for young women, the disease is now highest in the North West. 'We know that across England, use of tanning beds is highest among young women in the north and is alsohigh among lower socioeconomic status groups, so this may well be a strong contributing factor to both these findings.Previous figures have alwaysshown melanoma to be more common in affluent people whocan afford to fly abroad to warmer countries. These new findings suggest that holidays abroad becomingmore affordable for everyone has contributed to those with lower incomes being diagnosed with the disease.