Several states have now banned the use of ultra-violet solarium sun-beds, but the outlawing has cause outrage from some operators in Queensland.

The closing-down of commercial solariums was prompted in part by the death of a Victorian woman in 2007, whose melanoma has been blamed on frequent tanning sessions.

Queensland’s solariums will close by December 31 2014 in line with similar dates set in Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia and New South Wales.

Some solarium owners in Queensland say they face financial ruin if they cannot continue operating the machines, despite their strong links with often-fatal cancers.

There are concerns that the ban will force tanning underground, creating a black market for leather-skinned sun damage enthusiasts looking to off-street suppliers for their high intensity UV fix.

Queensland Health is reportedly in negotiations to offer licensed operators compensation in the form of sun-bed buy-backs of $5,000 for each unit surrendered before April 14 2014.

Cancer Council spokesperson Katie Clift said it was a great way to get the beds out of businesses as soon as possible. Cancer Council statistics say people who use tanning beds before the age of 35 more than double their risk of developing melanoma.

One Gold Coast solarium and spray-tan business operator says the compensation is not good enough.

“To say that we will be given between $1,000-5,000 for the machine ... well it's not just a machine, it's a livelihood,” he said

“It's an income and it's a business that has been developed for 12 years, and it feels like more of a kick in the head.”

“Other states have had a long time to plan this. Other states were told a year ago that their ban comes into place next year.”

A spokesperson for the Queensland Health Minister said operators were forewarned.

“The ban was first made on repairing beds last year, and this year no new beds could be bought for commercial use,” spokesman Cameron Thomson said.

“We've been in consultation with businesses and have tried to give them as much notice as possible.

“We've warned them that they need to find alternatives in their business.”

“We will encourage young people to heed the law and take note of this ban and not seek the use of sun beds in illegal ways,” said the Cancer Council’s Katie Clift.