April 30, 2025, 1:07 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Traditional sun tanning always carries the risk of sunburn, premature skin aging, and skin cancer. Self-tanners in the form of lotions and sprays already offer an alternative, but there’s another option: tanning pills. Can you achieve a tan without risks by taking a pill? And do these pills even work? STYLEBOOK consulted an expert to find out.
Overview
Tanning capsules are taken orally. Their most common active ingredient is a food coloring additive called canthaxanthin. Canthaxanthin is a red pigment from the xanthophyll group (carotenoids). It is also visible in crabs and flamingo feathers and is found in small amounts in foods such as fruits and vegetables. In the cosmetics industry, this dye is produced in the lab.
“When you ingest this coloring additive, it releases pigment-altering compounds in your skin. With long-term use, your skin is supposed to become darker and appear tanned. While sun tanning causes the melanin in the skin to darken, tanning pills work from the inside out, releasing the color additives throughout the skin,” explains Dr. Dorothea Sadlo, a specialist in dermatology and allergology in Düsseldorf.
Ingredients of Tanning Capsules
In addition to the most common active ingredient, canthaxanthin, tanning capsules may also contain other ingredients. These are typically compounds similar to beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is a form of vitamin A and is responsible for the distinctive orange color of carrots and sweet potatoes. Other ingredients may include lycopene, lutein, or turmeric.
Do Tanning Capsules Really Work?
“It can take up to two weeks for the dyes to build up in your body to the point where they become visible on your skin,” says Dr. Sadlo. “Tanning capsules can indeed work and lead to visible results, even for very fair skin types. However, not without risks.”
Possible Risks
“A significant aesthetic risk factor is that the color result will most likely appear more orange or orange-brown and have little to do with the desired bronze tone one wishes for,” notes Dr. Sadlo. Additionally, the ingredients in tanning capsules are not natural. They can lead to serious side effects such as hives, gastrointestinal issues, or damage to the liver or eyes, as well as impaired vision. It is also very concerning that the risk of these side effects can persist for years after taking the capsules, as canthaxanthin can remain in the body for up to seven years.
It is also important to know that tanning capsules are classified as dietary supplements. Therefore, they are not subject to the strict control and monitoring of the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and are taken at one’s own risk. Canthaxanthin itself is approved, but only as an ingredient in small amounts for food coloring and not in the larger doses found in tanning capsules.
Caution with Tanning Accelerators
“Those who are now somewhat deterred might consider so-called tanning accelerators as an alternative, which are supposed to speed up the development of the desired sun tan. There are several of these products on the market that are taken orally. But caution is advised, as these can also be dangerous. They may contain an ingredient called tyrosine, a type of amino acid that, when overdosed, can cause headaches and promote the growth of cancer cells,” warns Dr. Sadlo. “Caution is also advised when taking capsules with beta-carotene. An overdose can cause dangerous vitamin A toxicity, which can lead to jaundice.”
Are Tanning Pills Effective or Even Harmful?
How “Beard Burn” Occurs and What Really Helps Against It
How to Style a Sequin Top for Summer
Expert’s Conclusion on Tanning Capsules
“Tanning capsules are relatively new on the market, but initial findings already show that these products can come with numerous side effects,” says Dr. Sadlo. “Many self-tanners in the form of lotions or sprays offer a safe way to achieve a sunless tan without the risk of prolonged UV exposure and without risky tanning capsules.”