JUST how far would you go for a tan?

Some who lust after sun-kissed skin are doing anything they can to get it, and are running or seeking underground solariums, illegally set up in backyards and homes.

While UV sunbeds are still legal to purchase, commercial solariums have been against the law since January last year in Victoria, NSW, Queensland, ACT, South Australia and Tasmania.

Western Australia only banned solariums in January this year.

Solariums are not banned in the Northern Territory but the operation is very rare in the state.

While people are searching for commercial solariums across the country, it’s a major concern in Victoria, with many turning to Gumtree out of desperation for a solarium tan.

Posts on the classifieds site beg for solarium use two to three times a week, with some even offering to travel far distances.

A desperate tan seeker posted on Gumtree: “After having worked in a solarium prior to the ban I visited a private salon which has recently closed much to my dismay!!”

“So I am turning on here to find sessions. Looking for a bed to use every second day. If anyone knows of any or can be of help PLEASE get in touch asap.”



There have been about 30 posts on the site from people seeking tanning beds in the Melbourne area in the last month.

The tanning beds were banned across Australia because of killer UV rays causing fatal melanomas.

Clare Oliver’s story was one that pushed Australia to forbid solariums.

She died in 2007 when she was just 26, after developing a melanoma that was aggressively fed by her excessive tanning.

She visited a solarium about 20 times when she was in her early 20s.

Cancer Council Victoria estimated 281 cases of melanoma and 43 deaths were caused by solariums in Australia every year and the ban prevents one in six melanomas in people aged 18 to 29.

After Ms Oliver’s death, the council’s director of prevention, Craig Sinclair, said solariums were never safe.

“With every use, you are increasing your risk of melanoma and prevention is far better than cure,” he said.

Solariums were being regulated in Victoria from 2008 before they were completely banned, with people under the age of 18 and those with fair skin barred from using tanning beds.

Illegal solarium operations from backyards and private rooms do not have these types of regulations.

SunSmart research found people who use solariums under the age of 35 have a 59 per cent greater risk of melanoma than those who don’t use sunbeds to tan.

Shockingly, Cancer Council Victoria also found solariums had six times the strength of the midday sun.

Mr Sinclair said in a statement there was no doubt solariums caused skin cancer.

“Melanoma is one of the most preventable, but sadly, one of the fastest-moving and deadly cancers,” he said.

“Solariums are never safe and a tan is just not worth it.”

A major concern with commercial sunbeds is operators don’t always know how much ultraviolet radiation their tanning bed is transmitting.

“And no one will be checking your skin type to set limits on exposure levels,” Mr Sinclair said.

Under new laws, people guilty of solarium commercialisation face fines of up to $44,000.

In January, a man in Adelaide faced court for providing cosmetic tanning for a fee.

Jake Byron Martin-Herde, 27, was the first person charged with the offence in South Australia since the ban.

He allegedly had three tanning beds at his home and advertised it on Facebook and Instagram under the name “Sharelarium”.

“We’d encourage people to rethink their desire for a tan, or use safer alternatives such as spray tans,” Mr Sinclair said.