NEARLY two thirds of young Scots have shunned sunscreen to get a deeper tan, a shock poll suggest.

And just 4% of young people aged 13-24 said they had never been sunburnt.

More than third (36%) admitted they had damaged their skin more than five times by staying out too long in the sun.

Research by the The Teenage Cancer Trust also found that almost one in 10 never wear sunscreen.

Over the last 30 years, incidences of malignant melanoma in Scotland, the most serious form of skin cancer, have risen faster than any of the current ten most common cancers.

More than two young adults (aged 15-34) are diagnosed every day in the UK.

In 2012, figures were released showing that cancer rates among 15-35-year-olds in the Glasgow area had increased by 150% over the last 20 years.

It is thought that increased sunbed use may be responsible in part for the rise.

Around 30 people aged 15-35 are diagnosed in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde each year, with 260 people of all ages falling victim.

Rates across Scotland in this age group have tripled in the last three decades, with around 100 people diagnosed with the disease each year.

The new poll was carried out by the Teenage Cancer Trust mark the launch of its annual sun safety campaign, Shunburn.

The research found that more than a third (35%) of 13-24 year olds have become more aware of sun protection from their parents, while over a quarter (28%) had learned about the dangers through the media.

A total of 13% of young people witnessed a family member or friend suffering from skin cancer.

Iona Stoddart, Education and Awareness Programme Manager for Teenage Cancer Trust, said: “Raising awareness of skin cancer is so important, because it is on the rise across the UK.

“We aren’t asking people to avoid the sun entirely, but to take precautions and avoid getting burnt.

“Repeated damage to the skin can cause problems long term and can increase someone’s risk of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer.”

The Trust is encouraging young people to follow five key sun safety steps: Stay out of the sun when it’s at its strongest between 11am and 3pm, cover your skin so it’s not exposed to the sun, wear a hat to keep the sun off your head and face, apply generous amounts of sunscreen at least SPF 30 to clean, dry skin before going in the sun and remember to reapply if you go in water and wear sunglasses to protected your eyes