The 10th anniversary of the banning of commercial sunbeds in Australia has sparked a renewed warning from the Cancer Council as the tanning obsession refuses to fade.
Cancer Council National Skin Cancer Committee Chair Professor Anne Cust said prior to the commercial solarium ban, which came into effect in January 2015, it was estimated more than 2800 skin cancer cases and 43 melanoma-related deaths were attributable to solarium use.
Professor Cust said while commercial solariums had been banned for the past decade, private ownership and personal use of solariums remained legal and unregulated.
“Recently, modified sunbeds have emerged, called collariums or collagen beds, which are promoted as a ‘healthy’ alternative to solariums despite emitting UV radiation and thus increasing a person’s risk of developing skin cancer,” she said.
Professor Cust said the rise of collariums contributed to Australia’s culture of glamourising a suntan, with data showing Australians were continuing to put themselves at risk of developing skin cancer to get a tan.
She said research conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) found over 2 million Australians (9.4 percent) attempted to get a suntan in the past year.
“This was higher for young Australians (aged 15-24 years) as one in five (20.6 percent) tried to get a suntan in the last year, with more young women (26 percent) doing so than young men (15.3 percent).”
Professor Cust said overexposure to UV radiation, whether it was in a sunbed or outdoors, was the greatest risk factor for skin cancer.
“A suntan is an indication that you’re doing damage to your skin. There is no such thing as a safe suntan.”
She said collariums emitted UV radiation, particularly UVA, which penetrated deep into the skin, causing DNA damage and contributing to skin ageing and skin cancer risk.
“We have the highest rate of skin cancer in the world with two in three Australians expected to have skin cancer in their life.
“Fortunately, skin cancer is almost entirely preventable. We encourage Australians to embrace their natural skin tone and make sun protection a daily part of their routine.”
Professor Cust said all Australians should use all five forms of sun protection when the UV is 3 or above:
- Slip on protective clothing.
- Slop on broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF50 or SPF50+ sunscreen.
- Slap on a broad-brimmed hat.
- Seek shade.
- Slide on sunglasses.
