by FIONA MACRAE

Last updated at 22:00 12 June 2007

Wealthier people are more than twice as likely to develop the deadliest form of skin cancer, doctors have warned.

A study of 23,000 cancer patients has revealed that those living in affluent areas were two- and-a-half more times more likely to develop malignant melanoma than their less well-off counterparts.

Blamed on short periods of intensive exposure to the sun - such as that experienced during a holiday abroad - malignant melanoma affects more than 8,000 Britons a year and claims more 1,800 lives.

Known be to more common in women than men, research now shows a clear link between wealth and the cancer.

Analysis of the medical records of cancer patients in Northern Ireland showed that both sexes were two-and-a-half times more likely to suffer from malignant melanoma if they lived in an affluent area.

The middle classes were also at greater risk of basal cell carcinoma, a more common but more easily treatable type of skin cancer.

Rates of this cancer, caused by prolonged exposure to sunlight, were 41 per cent higher in middle-class men and 29 per cent more likely in middle-class women than in working-class people of a similar age.

Possible explanations include the middle classes taking more holidays in sunny places and being more likely to seek help for sun-damaged skin.

No link was found, however, between income and squamous cell carcinoma, the other major form of skin cancer. The analysis of 12 years of medical records also showed the disease became more common with age.

The researchers, from Queen's University Belfast and Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, said it is vital that future cancer services can cope with the ageing population.

Rates of skin cancer are already soaring. The number of cases more than doubled in the last decade, to 70,000 a year in the UK alone.

Dr Susannah Hoe, co-author of the study, published in the British Journal of Dermatology, said: "Although our research highlights that some sections of society face greater risks than others, the 'safe sun' message is one we all need

to heed if we are to halt rising skin cancer rates."

Recent research has shown that nearly one in two youngsters is ignoring advice on safe tanning.

By the age of 24, a worrying 46 per cent of Britons have sun-damaged skin on their faces.

Rebecca Russell, of Cancer Research UK, said:

"This study adds to the evidence that the increase in the numbers of people holidaying abroad in recent years may contribute to the rising numbers of melanoma cases.

"As more and more people can afford to holiday abroad, it is important that everyone is aware of the risks associated with excessive sun exposure, so that we don't see this trend increasing."

The study is not the first to link cancer to wealth. Other work has shown that breast cancer is more likely to strike middle-class women.

It is thought this can be explained by lifestyle differences.

Wealthier women are more likely to delay motherhood, have smaller families and use hormone replacement therapy.

All three can raise levels of the female sex hormone oestrogen - something known to fuel the growth of breast tumours.