Prior to the ban, research estimated that 281 new melanoma cases, 43 melanoma-related deaths and 2,572 new cases of squamous cell carcinoma were attributable to solarium use in Australia every year.

What are collariums and are they any different to solariums?

“These devices are often marketed as being healthy, and we know that devices that are emitting UV radiation for the purpose of tanning are not healthy.”

While some manufacturers claim the machine’s light spectrum increases “UV compatability”, Cust said it’s not clear what this means and adding red or pink lights won’t negate harmful effects of UV.

What happens when you use a collarium?

“It’s essentially your body’s way of saying ‘I’m in trauma, I’m distressed’. It’s your body’s way of trying to protect itself from the UV radiation damaging the DNA in your cells,” she said.

Collariums in Australia

An in NSW, the state’s Environmental Protection Authority said it had received 32 reports in 2024, The Guardian reported.

Experts concerned about rise in tanning trends

“It’s really important that young people understand the risks of intentionally tanning and spending time in our Australian summer sun, which is much stronger in Australia than the rest of the world,” Cust said.

How to stay sun safe

“If you can check the UV index for the location you’re at on those apps, you can look to see when you should be applying sun protection,” she said.