The poll of 1,500 women showed that one in four asked were not planning to use sun cream while on holiday. Macmillan have called this data “very concerning”.

In the survey report, the charity writes: "Of those who said they never wear sun tan lotion, when asked why, 24% say they don't sun burn, 14% think sun tan lotion is too expensive and 12% believe it doesn't work."

Over two and a half thousand people die of skin cancer annually.

Macmillan nurse Carol Goodman added, "As people are preparing to go abroad for their annual holiday, it is very concerning that nearly a quarter of British women are putting themselves at risk of skin cancer by not wearing any sun tan lotion abroad.

Results of the Macmillan survey correlate with concerns shared with the British Association of Dermatologists. Their figures showed that 92% of people had been sunburnt at least once, while a third of people had suffered from sunburn more than ten times

The Association’s president is Stephen Jones, and he refutes people’s own suggestions that they don’t burn.

He told the BBC, "Not everyone's skin offers the same level of protection in the sun, which is why it's really important to get to know your own risk level - for example, people with pale skin who burn easily or those with a close family history of skin cancer are at greater risk of sun damage and need to take extra steps to protect themselves."