One of the latest methods UK consumers have discovered for enhancing a tan is tanning tablets. These are pills or supplements which are formulated to help your body to tan naturally and to fight the negative effects of UV exposure from within. Tanning tablets work because they contain canthaxanthin, which belongs to a family of yellow/red pigments known as cartenoids. Canthaxanthin is the chemical that gives colour to brine shrimp and crustaceans, amongst many other fish, plants, and even mushrooms. It is also used in food manufacturing as a colour additive, where it is known as Food Orange 8, carophyll red, or roxanthin 10. If you look, you will find that most red, orange, or yellow processed foods contain canthaxanthin on the list of ingredients.
However, though many tanning tablets containing canthaxanthin are already on the market, the FDA have not yet approved the use of the chemical as a tanning agent. Only small amounts of canthaxanthin are used as colour additives, whilst larger amounts are needed for tanning and this may have harmful side effects. Overusing the chemical can cause damage to the eyes, stomach cramps, nausea and diarrhoea. You should always consult your doctor before starting to take any kind of supplement, even if solely for aesthetic purposes.
You should also be aware that the ingestion of canthaxanthin won’t show results overnight. At least two weeks of consistently taking tablets containing the chemical is required before enough dye builds up in your skin to be visible. Unfortunately, this also means that if you aren’t happy with the colour your skin becomes, it will take at least two weeks after you stop taking the tablets before your skin will return to its normal tone.
My very first time to read about tanning tablets. So they really exist. I bet most local celebrities are silently taking them regularly…hmmmm I wonder who they are.
I think if I’d go for a tan, I can use the tanning tablets as it can protect from the UV rays which can be harmful.
Owww! If there’s glutathione to make skin fairer… there’s this tanning tablet to make the skin darker. Everything has its counterpart indeed.
Wow!! I didn’t know there’s such thing as tanning tablet. Is this available here in the Philippines already? Im naturally morena and im proud of it. Haha!
i heard of tanning beds. this is also my first time learning about tanning tablets. i guess, many causacians will benefit from this as they are more prone to skin cancer.