The sun is shining and thoughts are turning to that all important summer holiday.

There can't be anyone not aware of the risks of skin cancer from the sun's harmful rays and yet many of us will still soak up the sun.

But it is not just the risk of melanoma (skin cancer) that people are now being warned about. The sun may make you feel good with that "healthy" looking tan, but scientists and health experts believe those rays are responsible for about 80 per cent of our visible ageing.

While singer and X Factor winner Leona Lewis is heading a campaign by the Teenage Cancer Trust, supported by Superdrug, to encourage young people to "Shun Burn", after the death of her cousin, other celebrities have agreed to find out what effect tanning has wreaked on their skin.

Glamour girls Jodie Marsh and Bianca Gascoigne, former WAG Charlotte Mears, GMTV host Kate Garraway and Big Brother 7's Imogen Thomas agreed to have their pictures taken with a special camera that exposes sun damage.

Their faces were read by the Beau Visage skin imaging system in aid of Cancer Research UK, and the revealing session was arranged by new! magazine.

The machinery looked 2mm under the skin's surface, painting a picture
of what the stars will look like unless they take prompt action.

The unflattering images showed brown spots where the skin is sun damaged, which will gradually come to the surface of the face unless it is protected.

And as a further wake-up call, the celebrities also had their skin age revealed, which in Jodie Marsh's case was eight years older than her real age.


JODIE MARSH

Real age: 29

Skin age: 37

Jodie describes having skin eight years older than her age as "horrifying" and admits having used sunbeds regularly.

She says: "I have to live with my face and every day I stress about it. I'm definitely worried about ageing. But as soon as I'm out of the door I forget. This has really made me think."


BIANCA GASCOIGNE

Real age: 21

Skin age: 21

The model was pleased her skin matches her age but reveals: "I don't really look after myself as I should do, though. I use sunbeds three times a week, but go through stages of not using them at all. I have more of a fake tan now. I use Piz Buin, but I'm always going in the sun, though recently I've been shielding my face."


KATE GARRAWAY

Real age: 41

Skin age: 39

The result demonstrated a conscientious approach to protecting her skin from the sun and she's relieved that she only used a sunbed once. "I'm really glad now."

"On holiday, I keep my face completely out of the sun. I have sun block on and wear a hat and glasses. I wear a foundation with SPF in the sun, too."

If she's going to an event she uses fake tan. "It's lovely to be in the sun but you don't have to bake yourself. Fake tans are so good I don't know why anyone uses sunbeds."


CHARLOTTE MEARS

Real age: 23

Skin age: 25

The former fiancée of Jermain Defoe was relieved by her result.

"It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. It could have been worse."

She admits she used to use sunbeds once a fortnight, but now also uses SPF sunscreen daily.


DO YOUR OWN SKIN TEST

Rates of skin cancer, the second most common cancer among 20-39 year olds, are increasing faster than any other cancer. There are around 100,000 new cases of skin cancer each year.

Maria Tabou at the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) says: "Skin cancer is now so common, we should be checking our skin for worrying moles as regularly as we check our breasts for lumps."

A new Mole Check service is being offered at selected Tesco Pharmacies, starting from £25 up to £65 offering immediate results unless a specialist opinion is required, which takes three days. Book at counter or call 0800 988 6653.

Superdrug (www. superdrug.com), which is supporting the Teenage Cancer Trust Shun Burn campaign by sending out free Burn Alert texts when sun is forecast, is also expanding its Mole Clinic service.

The service operates in 22 Superdrug branches throughout the UK including the branch in the Frenchgate Centre, Doncaster.

A full mole check costs £115.

For your nearest Mole Clinic visit www.themoleclinic.co.uk or call 020 7734 1177.