Experts are warning Australians against using sunbeds that are promoted as safe and legal alternatives to outlawed solariums, saying they still pose a cancer risk to whoever uses them.
In recent years, so-called collariums have been touted as health-conscious tanning beds.
But with Queensland Health investigating the legality of the machines that have recently been appearing in the sunshine state, experts have warned off Australians from using them.
"Whether it's marketed to you as a 'sun bed', a 'solarium' or 'collarium', if you use it, you will have significantly greater risk of developing melanoma and other skin cancers," sun safety expert Dr Joseph Scott from the University of the Sunshine Coast said.
"Young people are at a particularly higher risk, and need to be hypervigilant with protecting their skin as their skin is thinner and more susceptible to UV radiation."
Commercial solariums have been illegal in all states and territories bar the Northern Territory since 2016, seven years after the International Agency for Research on Cancer classed them as a grade one carcinogen, on par with cigarettes and asbestos.
Collariums claim to be safer by using ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation instead of ultraviolet B (UVB), which is associated with sunburn. They also purport to boost collagen stimulation, but experts say the benefits are bogus.
"UVA radiation, while less likely to cause immediate sunburn, can still penetrate deep into the skin and contribute to long-term skin damage and increased cancer risk," Professor Marion Eckert from the University of South Australia said.
"Additionally, the claim of stimulating collagen production may be exaggerated, or misleading, as excessive UV exposure can actually break down collagen and accelerate skin aging.
"Collariums still pose significant health risks, including skin cancer and premature aging...
"Someone dies every six hours from skin cancer in Australia, the last thing we need is misleading advertising and if anything, these tanning beds used and promoted in Australia."
Scott agrees.
"People should not be confused about sun beds and cancer risks," he said.
"The research is very clear. The use of sun beds will increase your risk of developing melanoma and skin cancer."
Leading skin cancer researcher professor Grant McArthur said states should throw the book at businesses operating commercial collariums.
"(They) still deliver UV radiation that can mutate skin cells and lead to cancer including deadly melanoma," he said.
"Tanning itself is a sign of skin cells in trauma due to DNA damage activating a stress response that increases pigment in the skin...
"Current state and territory laws and regulations should be used to take action against any commercial 'collarium' operator."
Queensland Health confirmed to 9news.com.au it is investigating commercial collariums that have been popping up around the state, threatening offending businesses with fines in excess of $300,000.
"We are aware of 'collarium' services being offered at several locations and will investigate to determine if these services are considered a banned radiation source under the Radiation Safety Act 1999," a spokesperson said.
"Owners of 'pink light therapy' or 'collarium' devices should seek and obtain detailed advice from the manufacturer on the radiation levels their devices produce to ensure they do not possess banned radiation sources.
"The maximum penalty for being in possession of a banned radiation source is $61,920 for an individual and $309,600 for a corporation."
The Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) is also taking a look at the issue.
It is currently supervising research into regulations regarding collariums, and what rules are needed to protect Australians from the machines.
"If loopholes exist in commercial solaria regulations to allow UV to be used for other procedures, this is something we will investigate because we know that overexposure to UV radiation causes skin cancer," health impact assessment assistant director Ken Karipidis said.
As for Scott, he has a simple message for businesses running collariums.
"Prior to the ban of solariums in Australia, it was estimated that one in six melanomas in Australians aged 18 to 29 years would be prevented by abolishing sun beds," he said.
"Anyone ignoring the ban and purposely providing indoor tanning services is endangering Australians' health and should be shut down immediately."
