Tanning pills are a type of supplement that claim to darken the skin without exposure to UV radiation. The most common active ingredient in tanning pills is a food-coloring additive called canthaxanthin, which purportedly releases pigment-changing compounds in the skin, making it turn darker. However, early evidence shows that tanning pills are not safe and are not FDA-approved. Canthaxanthin is approved only as an ingredient used for food coloring purposes, and it is not approved in the larger doses seen in tanning pills. Tanning pills containing canthaxanthin have caused at least one fatality.
Some tanning pills sold online may also contain other ingredients, such as vitamins, barley, and other natural substances. For example, Melatropin® is a minimally effective “sunless tanning” agent that is formulated with all-natural, synergistic ingredients in ideal ratios to maximize the body’s skin-tanning process, known as melanogenesis, in response to sun and/or UV (tanning bed) exposure. The bronzing effects of Melatropin® are the result of powerful antioxidants in the form of carotenoids, which together comprise a brown pigment that is able to further enhance the skin tone after oral administration. Melatropin® is considered well tolerated with the active ingredient profile dosed to ensure results, without any negative effects.
In summary, tanning pills contain different ingredients, and some of them are not safe and not FDA-approved. Canthaxanthin is the most common active ingredient in tanning pills, but it is only approved as an ingredient used for food coloring purposes, and it is not approved in the larger doses seen in tanning pills. Some tanning pills sold online may also contain other ingredients, such as vitamins, barley, and other natural substances.
