A new campaign is encouraging Lanarkshire residents to stay safe in the sun this summer and reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Skin cancer is the fastest growing cancer in Scotland, with over 11,000 cases a year.

The humorous social media campaign, which was launched this week, is a video parody of the Robert Burns poem ‘My Love is Like a Red Red Rose’.

The animated video sees ‘Rabbie Burns’ suffering from sun burn on a trip to the beach while his counterpart, ‘Rabbie Disnae Burn’, has a fun day out as he has protected himself from the sun.

Jean Grenfell, skin cancer nurse specialist for NHS Lanarkshire, said: “Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in Scotland and it is mainly caused by UV light from the sun and sun beds.

“Although we don’t get many sunny days in Scotland, it is important to remember that the sun rays are just as strong here as they are in the most popular holiday destinations.

“People don’t always realise that UV rays can travel through clouds, so it is important to take care even on cloudy days.

“When we do get sunny days, it is important to look after yourself and to take particular care when travelling abroad.”

The campaign highlights the simple steps that you can take to stay safe in the sun, in a light hearted way.

Jean added: “Melanoma is sneaky. 50 per cent of the time it’s in a brand new mole that has never been there before. The other 50 per cent of the time it’s a mole that is changing.

“The best thing to do is to check your skin once a month from the top of your head to the soles of your feet.

“When it comes to melanoma, you are looking for the ‘abcd’ of changes. You need to look for any change in asymmetry – where one half of the mole doesn’t match the other, any change the border/outline of the mole, any change in the colour of the mole or any change to its diameter/size.

“If your mole is asymmetrical, has a raggedy border, has more than two colours or is larger than 6mm – you need to get it checked out as soon as possible.”

Skin cancer is mainly caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. UV light comes from the sun as well as artificial light from sun beds.

Jean said: “People are becoming a lot more mobile than we used to be. People go on holiday a lot more and some even go abroad several times a year.

“Although we enjoy time in the sun, it is important to remember that the biggest risk factor for skin cancer is sun exposure.

“A sun tan is your natural immune system fighting to protect your body. So, although people think a sun tan give you a healthy glow it is actually not a healthy thing to have.”

With the ages of patients with cancer getting younger, Jean wants to make sure that young people have a full understanding of how to take care of themselves in the sun.

She added: “People with skin cancer are getting younger. A large percentage of patients are between the ages of 24 and 45.

“Although people are becoming more aware of skin cancer, many still believe that it will never happen to them and don’t look after themselves properly.

“Lots of people think that it’s a good idea to go on a sun bed before they go on holiday to give themselves a base coat. However this doesn’t protect you at all and all it has done is trigger your immune system. A base coat won’t give you a boost for a tan.”

The tips included in the video include wearing sun screen with a high sun protection factor, wearing sunglasses, covering up and sitting in the shade.

The animation can be viewed at: http://bit.ly/1MVYVAw

Follow these ten handy tips to make sure you stay safe in the sun this summer:-

1. Use sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. The higher the SPF, the better.
2. To make sure you never burn – keep a handy-sized bottle of sunscreen with you so that you’ll always have some to hand.
3. Don’t get caught out at home – the sun can be strong in the UK as well as abroad, so it’s not just when you’re on holiday that you need to think about protecting your skin in the sun.
4. Protect your children from the sun – young skin is delicate and very easily damaged by the sun. Use at least a factor 15 sunscreen and choose a broad-spectrum brand that has a four- or five-star rating.
5. Spend time in the shade. If your shadow is shorter than you are, then the sun is strong. The sun is at its strongest between 11am and 3pm.
6. Drink plenty – at least 6-8 glasses a day. Choose water and fruit juices rather than drinks with caffeine in them. Remember, alcoholic drinks can make dehydration worse.–
7. Wear a hat, t-shirt and sunglasses when the sun’s strong. A wide-brimmed hat, light long-sleeved top and trousers or maxi dress will help to protect your skin.
8. When choosing sunglasses, make sure they have the CE Mark and British Standard, have a UV 400 label and offer 100% UV protection.
9. If you have lots of moles or freckles, you have a higher risk of developing skin cancer, so you need to take extra care.
10. Keep an eye out for changes to your skin and tell your doctor of any changes.

This handy guide to skin cancer will arm you with the facts you need to spot signs of skin cancer:

1. The skin does several jobs. It protects the inside of the body from damage, helps to regulate our temperate and gets rid of some body waste through sweat.
2. Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world.