Press reports Thursday erroneously alleged that actor George Hamilton was treated in July for skin cancer, misrepresenting the fact that Hamilton instead had non-cancerous benign lesions removed by a dermatologist.

“It was not cancer,” Hamilton’s publicist, Jeffrey Lane, was quoted in the British press early this morning, correcting the Thursday reports falsely claiming that Hamilton had skin cancer. Hamilton — perhaps the most famous “tan man” on the planet, known as much for his dark tan as he is for his acting career — has had actinic karatosis removed before, and had more “pre-cancerous” lesions removed in July in New York.

He has never had skin cancer. Why the confusion?

“The dermatology community has blurred the line in discussing what they call ‘pre-cancerous’ lesions and skin cancer in recent years — it benefits them to do so because they get insurance companies to remove both types of lesions,” Smart Tan Vice President Joseph Levy said. “While it is prudent to have an actinic karatosis removed if detected, many go away by themselves and most will never become cancerous. Only a very small fraction ever go on to become squamous cell carcinoma, according to dermatology’s own information.”

The confusion may also be from a National Enquirer report which ridiculously alleged Hamilton was rushed to the hospital by ambulance after being diagnosed with skin cancer. Some reports suggested that Hamilton did go to the hospital because the stitches from the removal of his benign lesions came undone and the actor was bleeding, although that was not confirmed.

Hamilton was the keynote speaker at Smart Tan’s 1999 and 2003 conventions — headlining “The TAN-ight Show” at the later convention. The 71-year-old actor — whose beach-movie beginnings spawned an acting career where time in the sun or in a salon became part of the actor’s contract rider for motion pictures — surprises people with his soft, wrinkle-free skin.

Hamilton attributes his wonderful, soft, smooth skin to diet, lifestyle and heredity — avoiding white sugar, eating mostly vegetarian meals and being in excellent physical condition.

The actor is rehearsing for an upcoming U.S. tour of the smash musical La Cage Aux Folles.