Spray-on tans take over from solariums

[Editor-in-Chief]

Spray-on tans take over from solariums
By JANICE HARRIS
Wednesday, 8 December 2004

THE popularity of new spray-on tanning techniques in beauty salons is drawing people away from solariums.

However, Cancer Council regional programs co-ordinator Christine Urbanski says the Cancer Council is still concerned at the number of people ignoring the warnings of health professionals about the dangers of using solariums.

She said the latest figures from the Cancer Council showed the highest users of solariums were women in the 25-44 age group.

Ms Urbanski said the explosion in NSW and Victoria of the use of solariums in the past 10 years was a major issue for the Cancer Council which believes it doubles a person's chances of developing melanoma.

"We are particularly concerned about unsupervised solariums that are coin operated, or self-serve and those found in health and fitness centres without trained staff, "she said.

Principal of Orange's International Institute of Beauty Therapy, Kylie Tarleton, said there was now an increased awareness in the industry of the dangers of using solariums.

"We emphasise in our teaching that it is very important that anyone insisting on using a solarium must sign an indemnity form and have it clearly spelled out what the dangers are," she said.

"But fake tanning is starting to become really popular and the use of spray tanning is going to be huge," she said.

Orange beautician Nadine Harp said when she established her salon she decided not to install a solarium.

"I refused to get one because in the long run it just isn't worth it when you weigh up the risks," she said.

Instead, like many of the other salon operators in Orange, she is offering a spray tan service.

"It's becoming really popular and it's up to the client how much they want tanned and whether they feel comfortable taking their clothes off or whether they have a tan in a swimsuit," she said.

"It's all about what the client feels comfortable with."

Ms Urbanski said the Cancer Council was working to increase regulatory restrictions on the industry, particularly in unsupervised solariums.

"Unfortunately we are in a situation where there is self regulation in the industries which use solariums, but we want that changed," she said.

Source

[Evil croc]

This is very True solarium are being overtaken by Sunless over here