Cancer Council welcomes under 18s solarium ban
25 January 2009
The banning of under 18s from using solariums has been welcomed by Cancer Council Victoria, as new research shows attitudes persist that solariums are a safe form of tanning.
Director of Cancer Council Victoria's Cancer Prevention Centre Craig Sinclair said the Victorian Government is to be congratulated for its leadership in solarium regulation.
"The new regulations announced by the Health Minister Daniel Andrews today will further protect the community from the dangers of exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation," Mr Sinclair said. "Solariums are dangerous and increase the risk of skin cancer.
"Banning young people who are under 18 is an important step as adolescence is a critical period during which exposure to UV radiation is more likely to contribute to skin cancer in later life. We also welcome the banning of people with fair skin from using solariums.
"We're particularly pleased that the measures announced today introduce the toughest penalties in the country for those operators who fail to comply with the new regulations."
Mr Sinclair said while attitudes were changing there is still a lack of awareness about the dangers of solarium use.
"New Cancer Council research shows that 11 per cent of Victorians think a suntan from a solarium is safer than one at the beach. Twenty three per cent think that people who use solariums have about the same chance of developing skin cancer as those who don't use one," he said.
"A solarium tan is not ‘safer' than tanning in the sun. There is no such thing as a ‘safe' tan.
"Solariums can emit UV radiation up to three times as strong as the midday summer sun. Further, people who use a solarium before the age of 35 have a 75 per cent greater risk of melanoma than those who don't use solariums.
"The message is simple - using a solarium for even a small amount of time increases your chances of developing skin cancer."
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre surgeon Mr David Speakman said the Victorian Government was to be congratulated on the new solarium regulations.
"As a clinician dealing with melanoma, I am alarmed to see that some people are still not taking in the UV behaviour messages," Mr Speakman said.
"The best way to defeat melanoma is to prevent it. The message about UV damage is vital to beating this cruel disease. In the instance of disease progression and when all options fail, the outcomes are devastating for the patient and family.
"As doctors who see the effects of UV damage, we congratulate the Minister on these progressive initiatives and urge the community to adhere to the SunSmart messages and incorporate sun protection into all aspects of their lifestyle."
Twenty-one year old Rachel Varga was an avid solarium user but a cancer scare changed her mind.
"I got a solarium membership when I was 17 and still in school and used it 3-4 times a week for two years. I liked to look brown and I used to sunbake a lot but I was doing year twelve and I didn't have the time so the solarium was a quick fix.
"A spot appeared behind my ear that had to be cut out. While I was lucky it wasn't malignant, it gave me a massive scare. I no longer use solariums or sunbake.
"My messages is: think about the consequences. Sunbaking is not about what you look like now it's about what is going to happen later on."
Mr Sinclair said the new regulations represent the culmination of ten years of partnership between Cancer Council and the Victorian Government.
"Cancer Council has played an active role over a number of years in the effort to regulate the solarium industry and the Victorian Government is to be congratulated for its leadership in being the first state in Australia to introduce solarium legislation," he said.
"We welcome the government's investment in a social marketing campaign to inform the Victorian population that solariums are not safe.
"However; any exposure to UV radiation, whether from a solarium or the sun, can cause skin cancer. It is important that skin cancer prevention continues to be a high public health priority due to the very large number of people who are affected by the disease each year."
Latest news
Practice what you preach at the beach
SunSmart is encouraging parents to role model sun safe behaviour after a new Australian study has shown that sun protection behaviour of children is heavily influenced by what their parents do to protect themselves from too much of the sun's ultraviolet rays.
Tennis stars serve SunSmart message ahead of Australian Open
Tennis stars, John Newcombe, Felix Mantilla and Alicia Molik are urging players and spectators to be SunSmart while enjoying the on court action at this year's Australian Open.
