Solariums and Collariums (Sunbeds and Tanning Beds) in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Solariums and collariums (often called sunbeds or tanning beds) are sometimes marketed as a convenient way to get a “healthy glow,” especially during long Grand Rapids winters. However, these devices expose your skin and eyes to high levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and significantly increase your risk of skin cancer.

This guide explains the risks of solariums and collariums, why they are not a safe alternative to the sun, and how people in Grand Rapids, MI can protect their skin and find local help.

What Is a Solarium?

A solarium is any tanning unit that uses ultraviolet (UV) radiation to darken (tan) the skin. They are also known as:

  • Sunbeds
  • Sunlamps
  • Tanning beds

Solariums can emit UV radiation up to 6 times stronger than the midday summer sun, even stronger than UV levels you might experience at Lake Michigan beaches on a clear July day.

Health Risks of Solariums

Solariums can cause:

  • Immediate skin damage – irritation, redness, swelling, and sunburn
  • Eye damage – including cataracts and other eye conditions if proper eye protection is not used
  • Long-term skin damage – premature aging, wrinkles, and age spots
  • Increased risk of skin cancer – including melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma

A solarium tan does not protect your skin from the sun. If you have a tan from a tanning bed, your skin can still be damaged by natural UV radiation from the sun in Grand Rapids—whether you’re walking downtown, skiing at Cannonsburg, or boating on the Grand River.

What Is a Collarium?

A collarium (sometimes called a collagen bed) is similar to a solarium but is often marketed as:

  • “Red light therapy”
  • “Collagen-boosting” tanning
  • “Skin rejuvenation” beds

Instead of the typical blue lights of a traditional solarium, a collarium uses lamps that emit pink and red light, along with UVA and UVB radiation.

Myths vs. Facts About Collariums

Claim: Collariums “stimulate collagen” and provide a “safe tan.”
Fact: The UVA radiation from collariums does not stimulate collagen or elastin. Instead, it:

  • Breaks down collagen and elastin
  • Speeds up skin aging
  • Increases the risk of skin cancer

A collarium does not provide a safe tan. The UVB radiation emitted can cause:

  • Sunburn
  • Cataracts
  • Skin cancer

If your skin starts to change color (tan), that is a warning sign that your body is trying to protect itself from UV damage—not a sign of health.

How Tanning Affects Your Skin

Melanin and Skin Color

Skin cells in the top layer of your skin (the epidermis) make a pigment called melanin. Melanin gives your skin its natural color.

When your skin is exposed to UV radiation—whether from the sun, a solarium, or a collarium—it produces more melanin. This causes your skin to darken and tan.

A Tan Is Skin Damage

A tan is not a sign of good health. It is a sign that your skin has been damaged by UV radiation.

  • Tanning without burning can still cause:
    • Skin damage
    • Premature skin aging
    • Skin cancer

UV Radiation and DNA Damage

UV radiation can cause permanent DNA damage in skin cells. This DNA damage can build up over time and lead to skin cancer.

A typical tan from a solarium or collarium provides protection equivalent to about SPF 3—far below the SPF 30–50 recommended by dermatologists and public health experts. That means UV damage still happens, even if you don’t burn.

Each time you expose your skin to UV radiation, you increase your lifetime risk of developing skin cancer.

People of all skin types, including darker skin tones, are at risk of:

  • Skin damage
  • Premature aging
  • Skin cancer

Skin Cancer Risk From Solariums and Collariums

Research shows that using a solarium or tanning bed significantly increases your risk of skin cancer:

  • If you use a solarium, you have about a 20% higher risk of melanoma than someone who has never used one.
  • If you started using solariums before age 35, your risk of melanoma increases by about 59%.
  • The more often you use tanning beds, the higher your risk.

Solarium use also increases the risk of:

  • Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) – risk increased by about 67%
  • Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) – risk increased by about 29%

If you have ever used a solarium or collarium, your risk of skin cancer is higher than if you had never used one.

Grand Rapids, Michigan: Local Context and UV Exposure

In Grand Rapids, long, cloudy winters and limited sunlight can make indoor tanning seem tempting. However:

  • Winter UV: UV rays can still reach your skin on cold or cloudy days, especially when reflected off snow and ice.
  • Summer UV: In summer, UV levels can be high across West Michigan, especially near water—whether you’re at Millennium Park beach, Lake Michigan, or on the Grand River.
  • Great Lakes region: Water and sand can reflect UV radiation, increasing exposure.

Because of these factors, adding solarium or collarium use on top of natural sun exposure in Michigan can dramatically increase your lifetime risk of skin cancer.

There Is No Such Thing as a Safe Tan From a Solarium or Collarium

Using solariums or collariums:

  • Does not provide a safe way to tan
  • Does not protect you from the sun
  • Does not prevent DNA damage

A tan from a tanning bed offers no meaningful protection against UV radiation and does not reduce the risk of sunburn or skin cancer from natural sunlight.

How to Protect Your Skin in Grand Rapids

To reduce your risk of skin cancer and premature skin aging, focus on sun safety rather than tanning.

Everyday Sun Protection Tips

Use multiple forms of protection whenever UV levels are high (typically late spring through early fall in Michigan, and anytime you’re outdoors for extended periods):

  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat – especially at parks, outdoor festivals, and sporting events.
  • Wear protective clothing – long sleeves, long pants, and tightly woven fabrics.
  • Use broad-spectrum sunscreen – SPF 30 or higher (SPF 50 preferred); reapply every 2 hours and after swimming or sweating.
  • Wear UV-protective sunglasses – to help prevent cataracts and other eye damage.
  • Seek shade – sit under trees, umbrellas, or shelters at places like Rosa Parks Circle, John Ball Zoo, or Lake Michigan beaches.
  • Avoid tanning beds and sunlamps – there is no safe level of solarium or collarium use.

When to See a Doctor in Grand Rapids

If you have ever used solariums or collariums, it’s especially important to:

  • Know your skin – check your skin regularly from head to toe.
  • Look for changes, including:
    • New moles or spots
    • Spots that change in size, shape, or color
    • Sores that don’t heal
    • Itching, bleeding, or crusting spots

See a doctor as soon as possible if you notice:

  • A new or unusual spot
  • A mole that looks different from your others (“ugly duckling”)
  • Any rapid changes in an existing mole or spot

You may also want to talk with your primary care provider about setting up a skin surveillance plan, especially if you:

  • Have a history of tanning bed use
  • Have fair skin, light eyes, or red/blond hair
  • Have many moles or a family history of skin cancer
  • Have had severe sunburns, especially in childhood

Local Resources in Grand Rapids, MI

If you have concerns about tanning bed use or skin cancer risk, the following local resources can help:

Healthcare Providers

  • Your primary care provider (PCP)

    • At systems like Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, or Mercy Health
    • Can perform skin checks, refer you to a dermatologist, and help with preventive care.

  • Local dermatologists in Grand Rapids

    • Offer full-body skin exams, mole mapping, and skin cancer treatment.

  • Urgent care and walk-in clinics

    • Can evaluate concerning spots if you cannot see your regular doctor quickly.

Public Health and Information

  • Kent County Health Department

    • Offers public health information and may provide education on skin cancer prevention and UV safety.
    • Website: search “Kent County Health Department skin cancer prevention.”

  • Grand Rapids Public Health / City of Grand Rapids

    • Local campaigns may address sun safety at community events, parks, and pools.

  • National organizations (for information and support):

    • American Cancer Society
    • Skin Cancer Foundation
    • American Academy of Dermatology

If you suspect a business in Michigan is operating commercial tanning units in violation of state regulations, contact the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) or the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to ask how to report concerns about unsafe or unlawful tanning practices.

Key Points to Remember

  • Solariums and collariums (sunbeds and tanning beds) expose you to high levels of UV radiation.
  • They can cause eye damage and immediate skin damage, such as irritation, redness, swelling, and sunburn.
  • UVB radiation from these devices can cause sunburn, cataracts, and skin cancer.
  • A tan means your skin has been damaged; it is not a sign of good health.
  • Tanning without burning can still cause permanent DNA damage, premature aging, and skin cancer.
  • A tan gives only about SPF 3 protection—far below the recommended SPF 30–50.
  • There is no such thing as a safe tan from a solarium or collarium.

For residents of Grand Rapids, Michigan, the safest choice is to avoid tanning beds entirely, protect your skin year-round, and work with local healthcare providers to monitor any skin changes.