July is Ultraviolet Awareness Month. There are tanning sprays, foams, lotions and now pills? 

 Touted all over social sites, like TikTok, tanning pills allegedly work because they contain canthaxanthin, a synthetic color additive similar to beta-carotene, the substance that gives carrots their orange color. Once swallowed, the additives in the pills are then deposited throughout the body, especially the skin, giving it a sun-kissed hue.

These pills are often marketed as a way to enhance a tan but not without some concern say dermatologists. “One potential hazard is that the ingredients in these pills offer no protection from the sun’s damaging rays,” says Dr. Alexis Young, dermatologist with Hackensack University Medical Center. “The ingredients  can actually make your skin even more sensitive to sunlight, making you more susceptible to sunburn and potential skin cancers.”

Dr. Young also warns of other potential health concerns including a build up of  canthaxanthin in the liver which may result in damage to the organ as well as an accumulation in the retina, potentially causing vision problems.

“Of all the tanning options available, I do not recommend tanning pills,” says Dr. Young. “I suggest choosing a tanning lotion with DHA (dihydroxyacetone), which is a safe and effective ingredient that reacts with the skin's amino acids to produce a brown pigment.”

This July, UV Awareness Month, Dr. Young reminds everyone that the sun emits ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can damage your skin and lead to sunburn, premature aging, and skin cancer. To protect yourself, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, even on cloudy days. Apply sunscreen liberally and evenly to all exposed skin 15 minutes before going outside, and reapply every two hours, or more often if you are sweating or swimming.

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Yvon Lux is the editor of her Apple News channel covering lifestyle news and current events. Her “blogazine” celebrates sisterhood and empowers women by focusing on women’s health, travel, lifestyle, and entrepreneurial news while also sharing the most coveted beauty news and style stories.

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