Is It Safe To Use Tanning Pills?

When tank-top weather hits or you have a vacation on the horizon, you may dream about getting a sun-kissed glow. Wouldn’t it be great if you could magically get a tan from a pill?

Turns out, tanning pills do exist — but they’re definitely not magic. The results are less than impressive, and some tanning pills are downright dangerous.

Dermatologist Amy Kassouf, MD, explains why tanning pills aren’t a good choice and discusses the safest tanning alternative.

What are tanning pills?

So-called tanning pills are supplements containing one or more chemicals that can affect the color of your skin.

Active ingredients in tanning pills include:

• Beta-carotene: This nutrient is found in many fruits and vegetables. Your body converts it to vitamin A. If you take enough, it can build up in your skin to create a yellow-orange hue.
• Lycopene: This nutrient occurs in red-orange fruits, most notably tomatoes. Like beta-carotene, lycopene is a carotenoid. Consuming a lot of lycopene can turn your skin orangey.
• Canthaxanthin: This molecule is used as an orange dye in some foods. But it isn’t approved or safe to take as a pill. And the pills contain far more canthaxanthin than the amount used in foods.

Do tanning pills work?

Tanning pills may or may not affect the color of your skin, as everyone reacts differently. But it’d be a stretch to claim they create a tan. At best, you may end up a little more orange.

“In some skin types, these tanning pills may make you look a little tan because they can give an orangey glow,” clarifies Dr. Kassouf. “This happens because the active ingredient deposits in the upper layers of your skin.”

One major problem with tanning pills: The areas of your body that may turn the darkest aren’t necessarily the areas you want. “The ingredients in tanning pills concentrate more in the calloused or thicker-skinned areas like your palms and the soles of your feet,” she says.

Orange hands and feet? Not exactly a natural-looking tan.

Are tanning pills safe?

No tanning pill is entirely safe, but the level of risk depends on the ingredients. Canthaxanthin is the tanning pill ingredient with the greatest potential to be dangerous.

“This substance can get deposited in any organ in your body, which can be harmful,” states Dr. Kassouf. “For example, a company that tried to get their canthaxanthin tanning pills approved by the FDA withdrew their application because the product caused vision problems.”

Beta-carotene and lycopene differ from canthaxanthin because they occur in food and have health benefits. But that doesn't mean taking large amounts of them — or any nutrient — in pill form is a good idea. Plus, all supplements come with risk.

“Over-the-counter supplements aren’t regulated,” Dr. Kassouf says. “None of these tanning pills are FDA-approved.” That means a tanning pill may:

• Not contain what’s on the label.
• Have a different amount of the ingredients than what’s listed.
• Include toxic ingredients not listed on the label.

And in case you were wondering, a tanning pill “tan” doesn’t protect you from the sun’s UV (ultraviolet) rays, which can cause burns and lead to skin cancer.

“Tanning pills don’t work well and aren’t worth the potential danger,” she adds. “Don’t waste your money on something that could harm you — and won’t even make you look natural or healthy.”

What are the side effects of tanning pills?

Tanning pill ingredients can carry the risk of side effects, like:

• Eye damage. Canthaxanthin crystal deposits in the eye can damage blood vessels, leading to vision problems or loss.
• Digestive or allergic reactions. You may experience cramping, diarrhea or allergic reactions to canthaxanthin-containing tanning pills.
• Liver problems. You may stress your liver by overloading it with too much of the tanning pill’s active ingredient.
• Unnatural “tan.” You’ll likely turn unevenly orange or an unnatural-looking color.

A safer alternative to tanning pills

“Topical self-tanning creams are the safest alternative to tanning pills, tanning beds or tanning in the sun,” says Dr. Kassouf. “All topical sunless tanning products, including spray tans, have the same active ingredient, dihydroxyacetone (DHA). This ingredient works by binding to dead skin cells on outer layers of your skin and darkening over time.”

DHA is relatively safe to use on your skin. However, it’s toxic when inhaled. For this reason, Dr. Kassouf recommends sunless tanning creams as your best option. Spray tans aren’t totally safe. (And nasal tanning sprays are especially dangerous.)

Thinking about a tanning bed? Don’t do it — tanning beds and booths dramatically increase your risk of skin cancer.

Keep in mind that a sunless tanning cream doesn’t protect you from the sun or prevent skin cancer. So, if you’re going outside, Dr. Kassouf advises you wear:

• Protective clothing. Cover up with clothes and a hat. Look for clothing with a sun-protective UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) rating. UPF is like SPF (sun protection factor) but for clothes.
• Sunscreen. Use SPF 30 to 50, and make sure your sunscreen says “broad spectrum” to ensure protection from both types of UV rays — UVA and UVB. Avoid sunscreen sprays because they don’t provide reliable protection, and many have been recalled due to cancer-causing ingredients (carcinogens).

A safe tanning pill that actually works may still be a fantasy, but if you hate slapping on sunscreen, the future may hold a new option: a sunscreen pill. “This is still to be determined, but companies are working on these,” shares Dr. Kassouf.

Until then, get your glow on with a sunless tanning cream and cover up with clothes or sunscreen when you’re outside.