Tanorexics in Wyndham have not been deterred by strict government legislation cracking down on illegal solariums, with many turning to the black market to get their fix of ultra-violet rays.
A Gumtree search reveals dozens of residents seeking underground tanning units, offering to pay up to $30 for a session. There is also at least one illegal bed operating in the Wyndham area.
The ban came into effect on January 1 last year, with the state government citing the increased risk of melanoma as the reason.
According to Cancer Council Victoria, solariums can emit levels of ultra-violet radiation up to six times as strong as the summer sun at its peak and are estimated to cause 281 melanoma cases, 43 melanoma-related deaths and 2572 cases of squamous cell carcinomas (a form of skin cancer) in Australia each year.
Cancer Council Victoria prevention director Craig Sinclair said that the fact several Gumtree advertisers wanting access to solariums repeatedly posted their ads showed they were having a lack of success in finding a service.
“Victorians are clearly finding it hard to access solariums and this will only become harder now that all Australian states have similar bans,” he said.
A Bundoora couple was last week fined almost $80,000 in fines for operating an illegal solarium. It was the first conviction under the new legislation.
