#bronzesafely

We asked you some questions and here is a sample of your answers!

How often do you wear sunscreen? Never 12% Rarely 27% Occasionally 35% Often 20% Daily 5%

Do you think tanned skin is connected to having good health? "A glow does make you look awfully healthy and happy--so yes" "No, not at all skin to me seems to be connected to bad health, because it means you will get wrinkly skin earlier than those who are pale! I also connect tanned skins with the dangers of cancer, as melanomas can enter your blood."

Do you ever purposefully go tanning? "Yes, on the beach. When it's hot I like to grab the opportunity and just go tanning. This is very sporadic though" "Personally I never purposely go and tan, but this is because I'm naturally pale and burn easily! I'm also really cautious about skin cancer due to experiences."

Have you ever used a solarium? Never 85% Rarely 9% Regularly 3%

Do you use Melanotan II is? Yes 34% No 66%

Do you check your moles and freckles for changes in shape and colour? "Occasionally. But I just do it myself and if it worries me I'll ask for a second opinion." "Yes! Because I used to go to the solarium I'm scared of skin cancer!"

Should solariums be banned throughout Australia? Yes 62% No 38%

Interesting, don't ya think?

Melanin-II dealer Dean* tells of his encounters with the drug.

“I know that melanotan is illegal and I could get into serious trouble for selling it. But there is a big demand for it and it’s just one of the other stuff I sell as well, I’m not really known to sell it, but I think it’s pretty safe to use and I don’t know why it is illegal. 

“I prefer to sell body enhancing drugs, not the hard stuff…mainly because my mates go to the gym and are more likely to buy this stuff for me. And I get good money. It’s hard to fin and I can make it more expensive that way. I think times are changing and people are getting over the hard stuff and want look better. That’s how I make good money.

“I know they’re still testing it and it could take a while so that’s why there’s a bigger demand for it. I don’t really want it to be legal because I won’t make as much money [laughs]. But I’ve never really heard anyone complaining about it. I mean there’s a lot more drugs out there that can do more harm.

“They [the users] were tanned and it beats that orange look you get from those salons. It looks more natural. The way it enhances someone’s skin colour definitely outweighs the side effects.” 

*Name has been changed

Clinuvel is the company that develops a regulated drug called SCENESSE (afamelanotide) for medicinal use. This drug is totally different to that of melanotan or melanin, as melanotan is unregulated, illegal and untested chemicals that are offered online.

SCENESSE is developing a ‘photoprotection’, which is protection against the damage caused by UV rays, for people that suffer from allergies to the sun.

Head of Clinuvel Communications Lachlan Hay states: “SCENESSE activates melanin in the skin by mimicking how our body naturally activates melanin. Melanin is the dark pigment in skin, which not only colours our skin, but also protects individual cells from light.”

There is a major difference between afamelanotide and melanin-II. Hay told us that melanin-II is “offered as [a] lifestyle or tanning drug and due to their unknown manufacture and ingredients, the melanotan chemicals pose a serious threat to human health.”

SCENNESSE is NOT available over the Internet, only via a doctor’s prescription in Europe and the USA. Scenesse mimics the body’s natural ability activates melanin and provides a biological barrier between skin and ultraviolet light.

Some vendors and users of melanotan have tried to use the Clinuvel program to legitimize their injections- Clinuvel rejects these claims.

For more information look at Clinuvel's website.

Sun screen brand SunSense has created a great initiative to promote the damage tanning does to your skin. By using UV technology a camera is able to take a photo showing the sun damage you can not see with the normal eye. 

To check out just how damaged your skin is, jump on the SunSense UV photobus, which is stopping at: 

ERINA Erina Fair Shopping Center, Wed October 10


ROUSE HILL Town Center, Thrus October 11


CHATSWOOD Chatswood Mall, Sat October 13


NEWCASTLE Civic Park, Mon October 15


COFFS HARBOUR City Square, Wed October 17


HERVEY BAY Stockland Shopping Centre, Fri October 19

BATHURST Stockland Shopping Centre, Tues October 30


WOLLONGONG Wollongong Central Shopping Centre, Thurs November 1

News.com.au published an article last week, which discussed the push to ban solariums. 

It seems now Queensland is following New South Wales' lead in banning solariums by 2014. 

Brazil has already made the solarium ban a nation-wide law, and Australia is attempting to follow suit as more and more research indicates it leads to cancer. 

The British Medical Journal published an article in July stating the risk of melanoma from sunbed use is 20%, a very high, very frightening figure. 

For more information and evidence please read the news.com.au article linked above. 

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK: will this ban be affective?

Everyone remember 'slip', 'slop', 'slap', 'seek' and 'slide'. 

For those who have forgotten here is a quick refresher: 

Slip on some clothing that covers your shoulders, arms and legs. 

Slop on SPF30+ generously and don't forget to reapply every 2 hours. 

Slap on a broad-brimmed hat that protects your face, ears and neck! 

Seek shade whenever you can! Particularly between 10am and 2pm

Slide on sunglasses that are protective AND fashionable. 

It's all about tanning safely! 

Males can feel the pressure of being tanned as well. 22 year-old Luke* talks about his experience with Melanin:

“I just started using melanin over last summer and will use it again this coming summer despite knowing about its defects. I bought my first set of injections for $140, which is a pretty good deal, a friend of a friend deals them, and so I get it cheap. You use 10mLs of every injection, every day for up to two weeks. As well, try and get a bit of sun outside if it’s possible…that’s what I do anyway.

“The side affects aren’t that big a deal. I get a bit nauseous for like five to ten minutes after taking the injection but then I’m fine. Perhaps a couple of extra freckles but that’s not that big a deal.

“I know Australia is against melanin because it was difficult to find people who sell it, and now I have someone it all has to be on the down low. I guess that kind of worries me a bit, if I knew about this before I had my first injection it might’ve stopped me, now I have taken it and I know it’s not as daunting.

“I researched the injections before I used them because you have to know what you’re putting in your body. But in the end, it’s just like any other risky activity, there are always going to be particularly bad consequences.

“I’ll keep using them as long as my seller still has them and maybe if the bad research doesn’t keep churning out…”

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Has Luke got a good attitude? Is this as harmful as any other bad substance?