Worried about the damage that years of sun exposure could have had on their skin, around 70 people went to Boffa Hospital yesterday for an expert opinion.

The Dermatology Department within the hospital yesterday held a screening day to raise awareness about melanoma, a potentially fatal skin cancer which can be caused through repeated sunburn.

Although awareness about the damage of sun exposure has increased over the years, department head Lawrence Scerri said there were still some batches of complacency.

"By now, people know the facts. But we are going against a very tough culture which believes that brown is beautiful," he said. But getting bronzed has long-term repercussions on the skin, including wrinkles. Dr Scerri said that after years of sunbathing many women were seeking cosmetic corrective procedures, like botox, to remove the bad effects of sun exposure.

This year the health authorities have decided to include a warning about skin ageing in their annual campaign against sun exposure. Sun beds are as dangerous as sun exposure, with a fake tan being the only safe way to get a bronzed body.

A total of 84 people died of melanoma in the last 16 years, with more men than women succumbing to the skin cancer. The number of deaths increased by 33.3 per cent in the 2001-2008 period over the previous eight years.