Most people in Ireland are completely unaware of a skin condition that can increase the risk of skin cancer, a new survey has revealed.

Over 1,000 people took part in the survey and 94% admitted that they were unaware of actinic keratosis (AK), also know as ‘solar keratosis', which affects around 11% of the population.

AK is a sun-induced lesion that appears as a red, rough/scaly patch on parts of the skin that have been exposed to the sun, such as the face, scalp, neck, upper chest, upper back and the forearms.

AK is most commonly found in people over the age of 60 and around two in three cases of the most common skin cancer - squamous cell carcinoma - arise from AK lesions.

The condition is most commonly found in people who are fair skinned, who burn easily, who are out in the sun a lot or who use sunbeds.

The survey also revealed that while most people are aware of the damage the sun's UV rays can cause to the skin, just 15% use sun protection all the year round. Women tend to be better in this area, with one in five using sun protection all the year round, compared to one in 10 men

"Many people think that sun-related skin damage can only happen in foreign countries and not in Ireland. However, as there are so many fair-skinned people in Ireland, there is a high risk of AK. I see patients every day who have serious skin damage due to continuous sun exposure," explained Selene Daly, a dermatology clinical nurse specialist in Sligo General Hospital.

She pointed out that once sunburn heals, ‘it is quickly forgotten'.

"However people need to be mindful that repeated sun damage builds up over the years," she said.

She advised people who are unsure about marks on their skin to attend their GP.

The survey was carried out on behalf of LEO Pharma to coincide with the launch of the Check Your Skin campaign. For more information, click here