The desire for a tan for fashion or cosmetic purposes has led to the development of a large solarium industry. Recent Cancer Council research shows the number of solariums advertised in the Yellow Pages in Australian capital cities increased four-fold between 1996 and 2006.
Cancer Council Australia is concerned that many solarium users are unaware that solariums – which emit ultraviolet radiation – do not give a ‘safe tan’. This position statement provides information about the relationship between solariums and skin cancer, as well as skin ageing and eye damage.