Tanning pills sold online for as little as £7 which promise a sun-kissed glow, ‘don’t work’ and may be ‘very dangerous’, experts warned MailOnline today.
Products containing doses of pigments including beta-carotene — which gives carrots their orange colour — and the additive, canthaxanthin, were being advertised on websites including Amazon and Etsy.
Other tablets sold at retailers including Holland & Barrett were also found to contain L-Tyrosine.
Once swallowed, the additives are deposited throughout the body, especially the skin, turning it an orange-like color.
While not illegal, experts warn when taken in high doses they can trigger liver problems or even raise the risk of lung cancer.
MailOnline discovered one UK-based seller on Etsy advertising packs of 120 Beta Carotene 8mg tablets for £6.99. The ‘immune support tanning tablets’ were also vegan and promised vitamin A for ‘healthy skin and mucus membranes, our immune system, and good eye health and vision’
Another seller on Amazon advertised 120 ‘British made’ vegan tablets, a ‘two month supply’, containing beta carotene, Vitamin B3, zinc, copper, vitamin B2 and iodine. The ‘gluten free’ tablets, priced at £13.59, promised a ‘natural and safe tanning process’
Medics added that, because they are ‘highly unregulated’ unlicensed products, they may contain other ingredients that aren’t listed on the label.
MailOnline discovered one UK-based seller on Etsy advertising packs of 120 Beta Carotene 8mg tablets for £6.99.
The ‘immune support tanning tablets’ were also vegan and promised vitamin A for ‘healthy skin and mucus membranes, our immune system, and good eye health and vision’.
It added: ‘Antioxidants such as beta carotene play crucial roles in the body’s fight against free radicals.’
Another seller on Amazon advertised 120 ‘British made’ vegan tablets, a ‘two month supply’, containing beta carotene, vitamin B3, zinc, copper, vitamin B2 and iodine.
The ‘gluten free’ tablets, priced at £13.59, promised a ‘natural and safe tanning process’.
A second Berlin-based Amazon seller advertised 180 ‘tan accelerator’ tablets for £18.95.
Containing 7mg of ‘natural beta carotene per capsule’, the tablets are also promised to be ‘free from additives such as magnesium stearate and pesticides’.
Under a ‘legal disclaimer’, Amazon states: ‘Please check the back of the box and the full leaflet provided with the product for complete medical information and cautions.
‘With a consumable, always check the ingredients list for any allergies.
‘With physical devices, check the components and materials used. This product is not for purchase by those under 18.’
Its product safety information also warns not to ‘exceed the recommended daily dose’ and advises that food supplements ‘must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle’.
It adds: ‘If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medications or are under medical supervision, please consult a doctor or healthcare professional before use.
‘Do not use if seal under cap is broken.’
Equally, under each product Etsy adds a disclaimer which claims that ‘sellers are responsible for the following applicable laws and regulations’.
This includes ‘properly labelling and disclosing the ingredients of their ingestible products, as applicable’, it said.
The website also states: ‘Etsy assumes no responsibility for the accuracy or contents of seller’s labelling or listing.
‘Always read labels, warnings, directions and other information provided with the product before using it.
‘If you have any questions, or are concerned about potential allergens or other ingredients, message the seller.’
MailOnline has approached Amazon and Etsy for comment.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which polices the safety of medicines used in Britain, has previously branded melanotan, an artificial hormone that accelerates tanning and is used in tanning injections and nasal sprays, as ‘dangerous’
It has also taken action to remove tanning products that contain melanotan from the market for over 10 years.
But it can only take action on products including tanning products like pills if a product falls under the definition of a medicine and is not appropriately licensed in the UK.
A second Berlin-based Amazon seller advertised 180 ‘tan accelerator’ tablets for £18.95. Containing 7mg of ‘natural beta carotene per capsule’, the tablets are also promised to be ‘free from additives such as magnesium stearate and pesticides’
MailOnline also found own-brand tanning capsules sold by Holland & Barrett, containing L-Tyrosine. Priced at £7, they promise ‘a blend of Para-aminobenzoic Acid (PABA), L-Tyrosine and Copper, which contribute to normal skin pigmentation’. It advises taking two caplets per day — one with breakfast and one with an evening meal. But it warns not to exceed the stated dose and adds: ‘Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle
An MHRA spokesperson told MailOnline today: ‘Any product that is captured by the definition of a medicinal product must hold the appropriate authorisation to be legally sold and supplied in the UK.
‘If a tanning product that satisfies the definition of a medicine is identified on the UK market, we will carry out the appropriate regulatory action.’
Ingredients vary, but most tanning pills contain doses of beta-carotene and canthaxanthin, both of which are carotenoids — plant pigments responsible for bright red, yellow and orange hues in many fruits and vegetables.
They’re also added to animal feed to deepen the colour of fish flesh and egg yolks.
But the American Cancer Society warned last year some of the products used have not been tested for tanning.
‘Although the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved some of these additives for coloring food, they are not approved for use in tanning agents,’ it said.
‘They may be harmful at the high levels that are used in tanning pills. The main ingredient in most sunless 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.’
Limited research has also shown large amounts of synthetic beta-carotene with increased risk of lung cancers in people who smoke.
Dr Angela Tewari, a consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson told MailOnline today: ‘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: ‘Canthaxanthin is approved in small quantities, however, 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. It’s highly unregulated and best to avoid online products and retailers.
‘Personally, I would stay away from these products as you really don’t know what you’re getting.
‘Beta-carotene in tanning pills are not antioxidants, but in fruit and vegetables — like carrots and runner beans — they are helpful as the doses are very very small.’
Meanwhile, Laura Wilson, spokesperson for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, also told MailOnline: ‘It’s not a good idea to buy unproven and potentially unsafe substances from the internet.
‘They can contain chemicals that are harmful and we don’t know what the side-effects might be even after you’ve stopped using them.’
She added: ‘Rather than reaching for the tablets, there are lots of great fake tan lotions available today which put you in control of the shade of tan you get, rather than risking your health and potentially ending up looking rather more orange than sunkissed.’
MailOnline also found own-brand tanning capsules sold by Holland & Barrett, containing L-Tyrosine.
Priced at £7, they promise ‘a blend of Para-aminobenzoic Acid (PABA), L-Tyrosine and Copper, which contribute to normal skin pigmentation’.
It advises taking two caplets per day — one with breakfast and one with an evening meal.
But it warns not to exceed the stated dose and adds: ‘Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.
‘If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medications or under medical supervision, please consult a doctor or healthcare professional before use.
‘Discontinue use and consult a doctor if adverse reactions occur.’
But there is limited research to suggest oral L-Tyrosine supplements can help produce a tan.
Dr Tewari told MailOnline: ‘Oral tyrosine containing tanning pills do not work.
‘Tyrosinase is an enzyme that controls pigmentation on the skin.
‘It is produced in the skin. The tablet version does not help to produce pigmentation on the skin in a safe way.’
One study, published in the Comprehensive Series in Photosciences, also found the amino acid ‘did not induce tanning or enhance UVB-induced tanning’, when tested on mice.
US researchers also concluded in 2015 that oral tyrosine pills ‘have not been shown to work’.
Writing in the Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, they said: ‘Another type of tanning pill contains tyrosine. As mentioned above, tyrosine is a protein that has been said to aid in the production of melanin.
‘Oral tyrosine pills have not been shown to work.
‘The FDA considers them to be potentially dangerous and as a result they are not approved in the United States.’
A spokesperson for Holland & Barrett told MailOnline: As a leading health and wellness retailer the quality and safety of our products is at the heart of all we do.
‘All Holland & Barrett products comply with EU and UK regulations on food supplements and our expert team of nutritionists, and scientists carefully review our formulations against the latest evidence and information available.’
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.’
It comes as MailOnline revealed earlier this year that illegal nasal tanning sprays were being sold online for as little as £20.
Products branded as containing melanotan-2, an artificial hormone that accelerates tanning, were being openly advertised on the likes of websites like Etsy and Depop.
The substance, which can also come as injections or powders, is banned in some countries, including the UK, US and Australia, because of the serious side effects it can trigger, including kidney damage.
Under British law, it is illegal to sell the hormone. Anyone caught breaking the rules can face up to two years in jail and an unlimited fine.
But it is not illegal to buy the substance, which works by boosting the production of melanin — the pigment which darkens skin.
Last year MailOnline also found dangerous tanning injections advertised on websites including Depop, as well as needles, used ‘fertility pills’ and bongs.
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