Would you risk $94,000 for a tan?

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Sarah Sweeney at Sunspa in Dee Why loves a good tan.

Sarah Sweeney at Sunspa in Dee Why loves a good tan. Source: News Limited

BLACK Market solarium traders are targeting tan-hungry Gold Coasters on the internet prompting calls for a complete ban of the cancer-causing machines.

The tanaholics were so desperate to cure their “tanorexia” that they were willing to risk $94,000 fines for a fix.

A News Corp investigation found more than 80 ads promoting the illegal use of solariums across the Gold Coast were live on Gumtree yesterday.

Queensland Health is investigating reports the machines have moved underground on the Coast and threatened to hit anyone involved with hundreds and thousands of dollars in fines.

Commercial use of the machines was banned on January 1 but now the Cancer Council Queensland is calling on a total ban including for private use.

Mallory, a self-professed tanaholic, is upset the industry has been taken over by “seedy”

Mallory, a self-professed tanaholic, is upset the industry has been taken over by “seedy” men. Source: Supplied

One woman, named Mallory, said the ban had left her “pasty” and “white” and complained she was now suffering a severe case of “tanorexia”.

Mallory told News Corp she had been harassed by hordes of “seedy people” since posting the ad and warned girls to avoid the black market.

“I have got a lot of calls, but only from men, saying that they are purchasing solariums and asking me ‘do you want to come over and check it out’,” she said.

“Most of them are just seedy people.

“It is a lot more unhealthy because these people who are buying them are just looking to make cash and they are not worried about a person’s health. I hate spray tanning but it is a lot safer now.”

Ets Lumagen 26c Tanning Bed

Ets Lumagen 26c Tanning Bed Source: Supplied

To make matters worse, a Bundall-based tanning business offered to illegally rent out its solarium equipment to Gold Coast residents in an advertisement posted in May.

Cancer Council Queensland spokeswoman Katie Clift said the Bulletin’s investigation proved the machines needed to be banned from private use.

“(We) would like to see a ban on the sale of solariums for private possession and use in Queensland.

“It’s a serious concern that some tanning beds are being made available for purchase online.

A ban on the sale of solariums for private possession and use is necessary to further save Queensland lives.

“In the interest of public health and saving Queensland lives, we need a ban on private possession and use to be urgently considered by the State Government.”

The commercial use of solariums was made illegal on January 1 after a successful campaign by the Cancer Council.

A Queensland Health spokesman said it had not received specific complaints of illegal solarium use but vowed to investigate the advertisements.

“The Department is currently following up some advertisements on the internet and will determine if any regulatory action is required,” he said.

One woman, who would only be known as Rylie, told the Bulletin she had been bombarded with offers from black market solarium traders since posting an ad on Gumtree.

“I wanted to buy a machine for personal use but I kept getting phone calls from people offering to rent their machines to me.

“It really worried me because the illegal industry isn’t regulated at all so you wouldn’t know how powerful the machines are or where they come from.

“I just wanted a proper one to use for five minutes every now and again.”

Solarium owner fines:

$117,800 — Found in possession of a solarium used commercially in Queensland.

$589,000 — For not having a solarium license.

$235,600 — for a company for being in possession of a banned source

Solarium user fines:

$47,120 for using the radiation source without being the holder of a use licence and an additional $47,120 for using a banned radiation source.

Originally published as Would you risk $94,000 for a tan?