Lotions and pills marketed as ‘tanning accelerators’ generally contain tyrosine, an amino acid, often formulated in combination with other substances. Tanning accelerators are marketed with the claim that they will enhance tanning by stimulating and increasing melanin formation.

The FDA (Food & Drug Administration) have concluded that these tanning accelerators are actually unapproved drugs and the agency has issued warning letters to several manufacturers of these products. Unfortunately for sun worshippers there is no scientific data to date showing that they will actually work.