Dangerous' tanning products promoted by influencers Tanning pills: Effectiveness, safety, and side effects Before you take tanning pills, listen to this!, The active ingredient in tanning pills are known as Canthaxanthin, and although this ingredient is approved by the FDA, the high amount of this Australia's health regulator has issued an urgent alert against Melanotan a dangerous tanning product. "This stuff that people are getting is unlicensedand off the black market." Dr Greg Goodman