As Australians soak up the sun throughout what’s so far been a warmer than average summer, health authorities are desperately urging the public to be sun-safe — with the “bad habits we develop now” significantly increasing the risk of “developing skin cancer” later in life.
The warning comes as a skin specialist also encouraged Australians to stay away from “collariums” — also known as collagen beds, which are similar to solariums — that appear to be increasing in popularity, in social media in particular.
Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, Mark Nevin, Cancer Council Australia CEO said while the rate of Aussies developing melanoma aged 30 to 39 has reduced by 7.8 per cent between 2000 and 2024, there are still many young people still living under the misguided belief they won’t be affected due to their age.
“According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW), the data shows skin cancer awareness campaigns have positively increased sun protection behaviours in younger Australians,” Nevin told Yahoo. “However, research from Australian Government and Cancer Council tells us that … most (74 per cent) believe their risk of getting skin cancer is unlikely.
“Australia’s culture glamourises a suntan, and suntanning trends on social media contribute to harmful pro-suntanning attitudes. These attitudes can lead to young people having dangerous suntanning behaviours as they prioritise getting a suntan over protecting their health. This ultimately increases their risk of developing skin cancer.”
Collariums have been pushed as a ‘healthier’ version of a solarium. Skin specialists say in fact the opposite is true. Source: Facebook Marketplace/ABC
What are collariums are why are they unsafe?
Nevin said that while the reduced melanoma incidence rates among younger generations are “encouraging”, we know that young Australians have some of the “most concerning attitudes and behaviours” when it comes to suntanning.
He believes many still engage in dangerous behaviour to “prioritise getting a tan over their health”.
He warned the public not to fall for the collarium illusion, which some have falsely argued are a “healthier” version of the solarium — which have been banned in Australia since 2015.
“Manufacturers of modified sunbeds called collariums are marketed as a “healthy” alternative as they claim they provide a tan with skin benefits such as stimulating collagen,” Nevin said. “Collariums are similar to solariums and also emit ultraviolet (UV) radiation, particularly UVA radiation.
“The UVA radiation produced by a collarium does not stimulate collagen or elastin production but breaks it down and can cause more rapid skin-ageing. The use of any sunbeds, including collariums, that provide a suntan is a sign of skin damage and will increase your risk of developing skin cancer.”
He said though commercial solariums have been banned for the past decade, private ownership and personal use of solariums “remain legal and unregulated”.
“Cancer Council advises against using any type of solarium,” Nevin said. “Exposure to artificial UV radiation in a solarium increases the risk of skin damage and skin cancer.
“We want young people to feel empowered to be the ones to stop skin cancer trending. This campaign harnesses Gen Z culture and the power of influencers, fashion and lifestyle media to challenge young Australians’ dangerous attitudes and behaviours towards suntanning and encourages them to use all five forms of sun protection when the UV is 3 or above.
“After last summer’s campaign, we saw positive changes in young Australians’ sun protection habits with young Australians who reported seeing multiple campaign messages being more likely to use sun protection. Sustained funding for campaigns will help turn the tide against suntanning culture and ultimately save lives from skin cancer.
“However, the erosion of these dangerous suntanning attitudes and behaviours has only just begun, and there is more work to do.”
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