PILLS which promise to accelerate or enhance your natural tan could be highly dangerous, experts have warned.
The products, flogged online and on the high street for as little as a fiver, say they give users a “sun-kissed glow”.
GettyTanning pills could be very dangerous, experts warn[/caption]
Holland & BarrettThe products often contain beta-carotene, which is what gives carrots their orange colour[/caption]
But they may actually result in hives and welts, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, vision changes and sight loss, doctors say.
Many of the tablets contain beta-carotene, which is what gives carrots their orange colour.
Others feature ingredients such as canthaxanthin, L-Tyrosine, copper, lutein and astaxanthin.
Once swallowed, these additives supposedly spread throughout the body and change the skin’s colour.
But some of the ingredients when taken at higher doses can trigger liver problems or even raise the risk of lung cancer, according to a small body of research.
Dr Rachel Ward, an NHS GP from Oxfordshire, said: “Tanning pills contain high levels of colour additives such as beta-carotene which are then deposited around the body, causing an orange discolouration to the skin and eyes.
“Though some of these chemicals may be approved as food colourings when used in small quantities, they are not approved in larger doses in such pills.
“Tanning pills are therefore an unregulated product.
“Like all unregulated products, they have the potential to cause harm and no product can be identified as safer or better than another.
“Complications include liver damage and visual issues due to deposits of chemicals in the eyes.”
The Sun looked at a range of legal, but unregulated, “tan accelerators” on the market.
One bottle of 180 capsules, sold on Amazon for £18.95, is advertised as being “specially designed for developing a golden tan”.
Another, for sale in Holland & Barrett for £5.50, contains Para-aminobenzoic Acid, L-Tyrosine and copper and apparently “helps you build up your glow in a gentle and safe way”.
A third, listed on the supplement website Mium Lab, even claims to “prevent sun-related damage and ageing”.
Other so-called “bronze boosters” sold on websites which register high after a Google search allege they “support a deeper, darker tan” and are “ideal for pale skin or keeping your tan for longer to get that longer-lasting, sun-kissed glow”.
But whatever the alleged benefits, Dr Ward said: “My advice would be for everyone to avoid these pills.”
‘VERY DANGEROUS’
There is very little evidence to suggest any of the ingredients can actually help develop a tan.
And some studies have shown the ingredients in them, when taken at higher doses, have the potential to do harm.
Taking too much beta-carotene, for example, can cause vitamin A toxicity when not consumed from food.
Symptoms vary, but often include headaches, itchiness, drowsiness, bulging eyeballs, irritability, abdominal pain, jaundice, nausea and vomiting, according to Healthline.
Potential complications of vitamin A toxicity are osteoporosis and kidney and liver damage.
A synthetic beta-carotene overload has also been linked to a hiked risk of lung cancer in smokers or those who have been exposed to asbestos.
One 2019 study of 29,000 men who smoke, published in the Nicotine & Tobacco Research journal, found an 18 per cent increase in lung cancer in those who took 20mg of beta-carotene every day for five to eight years.
Beta-carotene pills promoted for tanning tend to contain around 7mg.
Another study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 1996, discovered that taking 30mg of the stuff daily, plus 25,000 Units of retinol (a form of vitamin A), for four years, was associated with a 28 per cent higher chance of developing the disease when you had a history of smoking or asbestos exposure.
My advice would be for everyone to avoid these pills
Dr Rachel Ward
Dr Angela Tewari, a consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson, told MailOnline: “The organic form of beta-carotene is found in certain fruits and vegetables.
“It’s been marketed to change the colour of your skin and in certain doses can make the skin orange or brown coloured.
“The issue is that synthetic forms of beta-carotene at high doses have been linked to lung cancer, particularly in smokers, and it’s very difficult to work out the correct dosage when using these products.
“This means that often the dosing in these pills is way too high for our bodies, particularly if you pop an extra pill by mistake or if you want a deeper colour change. It can actually be very dangerous.”
She added that canthaxanthin is approved in small quantities, such as in food colouring, but there are no guidelines on safe dosing.
“Canthaxanthin-containing pills are banned in the US as it is linked to fatal blood work changes and liver inflammation,” Dr Tewari said.
The American Cancer Society added: “They may be harmful at the high levels that are used in tanning pills.
“Canthaxanthin can show up in your eyes as yellow crystals, which may cause injury and impair vision.
“There have also been reports of liver and skin problems.
“Tanning accelerators, such as lotions or pills that contain the amino acid tyrosine or its derivatives, do not work and may be dangerous.
“Marketers say these products stimulate the body’s own tanning process, but most evidence suggests they don’t work.
“The Food and Drug Administration considers them unapproved new drugs that have not been shown to be safe and effective.”
A spokesperson for Holland & Barrett said that the quality and safety of its products was “at the heart of all we do”.
They added: “We include clear guidance on the safe use of our products and warnings where appropriate, and we work closely with suppliers, regulators and our trade associations to ensure that the products we supply are marketed with the correct information and ingredients clearly listed.”
An Amazon rep said: “We require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws and regulations.”
The Sun understands it is currently investigating tanning supplements for sale on its website.
Mium Lab has been approached for comment.
AmazonTanning pills are unregulated[/caption]