Former Hollyoaks actress and skin cancer survivor Terri Dwyer shares shocking photo of her sun-damaged face

FORMER Hollyoaks star Terri Dwyer has survived skin cancer twice.

Now she has shared a shocking image revealing the damage UV rays have inflicted on her face to warn others of the dangers of using tanning beds.

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The ex-Loose Women star has joined forces with Sunsense UK calling on the Government to ban sunbeds.

Terri, who has been diagnosed with malignant melanoma twice, revealed she is now facing a third scare as one of her moles has changed shape.

Sun lotion company Sunsense has launched a petition, Tan Ban UK, to challenge the Government to adopt the same policy against sunbeds as Australia.

In 2014 the Australian government banned commercial sunbeds in every state and territory in a bid to slash skin cancer rates.

The campaign hopes if it reaches 1,000 signatures the issue will be discussed in Parliament.

Sunbeds are thought to increase a person's risk of cancer by 20 per cent.

As many as 86 per cent of skin cancer cases are thought to be avoidable.

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And those who use sunbeds before the age of 35 have an incredible 78 per cent risk of developing the disease.

Terri said: "If I could go back and tell my younger self to avoid the sunbeds I would do.

"I had a sunbed at home for a year when I was 18 and I think that the use of this is largely to blame for the aggressive melanoma that I battled.

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"It’s a scary thought that stupid decisions you make as a young person can affect you in the future, when I was naively tanning I never thought that one day I’d be fighting skin cancer and worrying about leaving my children motherless."

Terri has previously revealed she would undergo a double mastectomy and a hysterectomy if she tested positive for cancer genes BRCA1 and BRCA2.

BIG PRICE TO PAY Is there EVER a safe way to achieve Katie Price’s deep mahogany tan? From sunbeds to sprays, expert reveals all

Both of Terri's parents died of cancer.

Her mum, Doreen, died of ovarian and lung cancer aged 44 and her dad, Tony, died in 2003 aged 50 from stomach cancer.

In the UK, around 13,300 people a year are diagnosed with skin cancer every year, according to Cancer Research UK.

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And spotting the early signs of the disease could make all the difference when it comes to survival.

Experts recommend you check you skin for signs of new moles, or existing ones changing, every couple of months.

Other celebs who have opened up about their battle with skin cancer include Hugh Jackman, who has had five basal cell carcinomas removed from his face, and former TOWIE star Sam Faiers.

The Wolverine star, 47, issued a warning on Facebook in 2016 after having his fifth spot removed.

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He said: "An example of what happens when you don’t use sunscreen. Basal cell. The mildest form of cancer.

"PLEASE WEAR SUNSCREEN and get check-ups regularly!"

Sam Fairers has spoken at secondary schools to warn teenagers of the dangers of using sun beds.

She told of how she doesn't go near them and encouraged young girls to get their tan from a bottle rather than risking skin cancer.

Skin cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world.

It occurs when damage is caused to the skin cells, most often by UV light from the sun or tanning beds.

UVA and UVB rays are the two main UV rays emitted by the sun.

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UVA rays account for up to 95 per cent of UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.

UVA penetrates the inner layer of the skin, called the dermis, and UVB mainly affects the outer layer of the skin, called the epidermis.

This damage can trigger mutations, or genetic defects, that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumours.

Melanoma can appear anywhere on the body, but is most common on the back, legs, arms and face.

They can spread to other organs of the body, which makes them more deadly.

The most common indication of melanoma is the appearance of a new mole or a change in an existing mole.

You can sign the

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