Tanning pills were developed as a safe method of tanning the skin, similar to the way a sunless tanning lotion works. Most pills created for tanning purposes use the active ingredient canthaxanthin, which is the same thing that is used color as a color additive in various foods. Pills for tanning have not been approved by the FDA and there is no proof that individuals who use them are doing so safely.
Do They Work?
Tanning pills are known to color the skin by adding massive amounts of color additives through the bloodstream once the pills have been ingested. The results will vary from person to person and are dependent on your original skin tone and color. In most cases, the pills containing the color additive turn the skin an orange-ish color, as opposed to the healthy bronze color users are expecting.
FDA Report
The ingredient canthaxanthin is FDA-approved only as a food coloring additive, and for use in small amounts, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration product information report. However, tanning pills containing the same ingredient use higher doses and are not an FDA-approved product. The FDA states that any imported pills for tanning that contain canthaxanthin may be automatically detained as a product containing an unsafe color additive. The FDA discourages use of any canthaxanthin-containing pills for tanning purposes.
Reported Side Effects
Previous users of tanning pills containing canthaxanthin have reported adverse side effects to the FDA. These include nausea, severe skin itching, skin welts, stomach cramping and diarrhea. Others have reported severe, colored crystallization deposits in the eye area. Some of these reports have been made long after the user has discontinued taking the pills. While these adverse conditions may be reversible, it has taken some users up to five years for their condition to improve and reverse completely. Side effects will vary from person to person, and some users may experience no side effects whatsoever.
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