Regulators warn about dangers of unapproved tanning products

Tanning drops and gummies, not approved for sale as therapeutic goods by the TGA, are making waves on social media, and Cancer Council warns our kids could be their biggest victims.

Despite years of campaigns working to promote sun safety and share the brutal truths around skin cancer, nothing has been able to stop young Australians from chasing a tan.

In 2024, we saw one of the most confronting summers yet, as tan lines became the must-have accessory for young women in particular, completely taking over social media.

Now, it seems this year’s tanning trend will be even more dangerous - with some of Australia’s leading authorities coming out with warnings as the weather warms up.

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There is no harmless alternative

Though we know there’s nothing healthy about a tan, that hasn’t stopped young Australians doing everything they can to get one.

2023 research from the Australian Government and Cancer Council highlights that almost 9 in 10 young Australians aged 18-30 intentionally or unintentionally suntan, with almost 1 in 3 believing it’s completely fine to do so.

It’s almost expected that you come back from a holiday or trip to the beach with a tan, with bronzed skin and visible lines garnering praise and compliments.

So, it’s no shock that people yearning for this approval are open to so many different avenues to make it happen.

While some turn to spray tans or self-tanners, regulators are concerned about the rise of unapproved products such as tanning pills, gummies, and nasal sprays being promoted on social media.

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“These tanning agents haven’t been assessed for their quality or safety”

Tanning gummies, and similar, are no new invention.

BBC News in the UK found that social media influencers were promoting banned tanning nasal sprays and injectables back in 2022, and in 2023, UNSW medical experts warned against a viral ‘Barbie drug’ promising to help people tan quicker.

All of these products contained melanotans - drugs which the TGA warns can cause serious health problems, and isn’t a harmless alternative to tanning whatsoever.

“Melanotans are synthetic peptides that increase melanin production in the skin to give it a tanned appearance. They are often listed on the label as Melanotan I or Melanotan II,” a spokesperson for the Therapeutic Goods Administration told Kidspot.

“These tanning agents haven’t been assessed for their quality or safety. Since these tanning products are not approved for sale or use in Australia, there is also no way of knowing what’s in them, no matter what’s written on the label. They could be made with toxic, poor quality or counterfeit ingredients.

“Melanotan II is listed in the current Poisons Standard as a Schedule 4 (Prescription Only) medicine. The import, manufacture, and supply of a Schedule 4 medicine without a valid prescription is an offence.”

It’s not just melanotan making waves

While melanotan isn’t able to be sold in Australia, other tanning products advertising similar benefits are appearing.

In the lead up to summer, a number of Aussie brands have gone viral on TikTok, advertising both tanning drops and gummies without melanotan, and accumulating hundreds of thousands of views doing so.

While many commenters on their videos are ecstatic about the launches, others had their criticisms - as do the TGA and Cancer Council.

This is particularly the case for those which are designed to be used alongside sun or solarium exposure, accused by everyday Aussies of glorifying tanning and promoting tanning culture.

Yet, while there is no melanotan in any of these products, the TGA warns that none of them are approved for sale as therapeutic goods.

“There are no tanning pills, drops or gummies approved for sale as therapeutic goods in Australia,” a spokesperson for the Therapeutic Goods Administration told Kidspot.

“The TGA advises consumers to exercise caution when considering purchasing medicines that are unapproved and not included in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods, particularly products purchased over the internet. It is important for consumers to be aware that there are no guarantees about the safety or quality of therapeutic goods that are not approved for supply in Australia.”

Cancer Council says there's nothing healthy about a tan. Image: Cancer Council.

The social media trend making our kids most vulnerable

These kinds of products most prominently find their following on social media - a trend which Cancer Council has had enough of.

“2023 research by the Australian Government and Cancer Council found that the biggest barrier to using sun protection amongst young Australians is the presence of harmful attitudes towards suntanning, and the powerful cultural norms driving them,” Anita Dessaix, Chair of Cancer Council's Public Health Committee, told Kidspot.

“That makes young Australians vulnerable to industries seeking to profit from tanning products and contributing to the glamourisation of a suntan.”

The TGA warned against looking to social media for any kind of health advice - particularly around tanning and tanning products.

“Australians should not rely on promotional content from social media or online sources when making healthcare decisions, and instead to consult a registered health practitioner to ensure safe and informed choices,” the spokesperson told Kidspot.

If you want to stay safe this summer, Cancer Council urged everyone to skip the tan altogether and instead embrace all five forms of sun protection.

“We encourage all young Australians to embrace their natural skin and protect it by using all five forms of sun protection whenever the UV level is three or above: slip on protective clothing, slop on broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF50 or SPF50+ sunscreen, slap on a broad-brimmed hat, seek shade and slide on sunglasses,” Anita said.

Originally published as Regulators warn about dangers of unapproved tanning products