The Rise of Ingestible Tanning
On November 13, 2026, reports surfaced detailing an emerging wellness trend where individuals are intentionally altering their skin tone through the high-volume ingestion of carotenoids. This practice, colloquially dubbed “carrotmaxxing,” “shrimpmaxxing,” or “tomatomaxxing,” involves consuming large quantities of specific vegetables or concentrated supplements to achieve a “sun-kissed” appearance without traditional UV exposure, as reported by The New York Post. The trend has gained traction among busy professionals and wellness influencers who seek a low-effort alternative to sunbathing or tanning beds. For individuals like Bethany Ferguson and Whit Frink, who balance demanding schedules with parenthood, the convenience of a once-a-day pill has replaced traditional methods. These proponents believe that by balancing specific pigments, they can achieve a natural-looking glow, though medical experts remain significantly more skeptical of the practice’s long-term implications.
Biological Mechanisms and Limitations
The trend relies on the physiological process of carotenemia, where pigments like beta-carotene, astaxanthin, and lycopene—naturally found in foods like carrots, salmon, and tomatoes—accumulate in the outermost layer of the skin. Dermatologist Viktoryia Kazlouskaya, owner of Dermatology Circle, clarified that this process does not constitute a “real tan.” While a true tan involves melanocytes producing pigment in response to UV radiation, the color change resulting from carotenoid consumption is merely “pigment accumulation” in the skin’s lipid-rich layers. For the effect to manifest, individuals often consume between 20 and 50 mg of beta-carotene daily—equivalent to roughly three to eight large carrots or multiple glasses of juice—over several weeks.
Experts note that while carotenemia is generally considered harmless and reversible, it is not without physical side effects. Registered dietitian Sophia Deahl, director of The Nourished Method, highlighted that rapid increases in fiber intake from raw vegetable consumption can lead to significant gastrointestinal issues, including bloating, gas, and stomach discomfort. Furthermore, while beta-carotene and lycopene are known to influence skin color through carotenemia and lycopenemia respectively, there is no scientific evidence suggesting that the ingestion of astaxanthin-rich shrimp will result in a pink skin hue, despite the marketing claims surrounding the “shrimpmaxxing” label.
The Risks of Supplementation
The shift toward using concentrated supplements, such as those marketed by brands like Zephyrian, introduces more serious health concerns. Unlike whole foods, high-dose supplements can bypass the body’s natural regulatory mechanisms for nutrient absorption. Deahl warned that at sufficient levels, beta-carotene can transition from functioning as an antioxidant to a pro-oxidant, potentially inducing inflammation. This is a critical distinction, as the metabolic processing of concentrated pills differs vastly from the consumption of vegetables where other fiber and nutrients modulate absorption.
Furthermore, the supplement industry faces limited federal oversight regarding safety and efficacy. Because products are not required to be FDA-approved before hitting the market, consumers often lack certainty regarding the accuracy of dosage labels. Experts strongly recommend that if individuals choose to use supplements, they should prioritize products with third-party testing certifications from organizations such as USP, NSF, or ConsumerLab to ensure purity and potency. Without such verification, a consumer is essentially relying on manufacturer claims, which may not accurately reflect the actual concentration or quality of the carotenoids contained within the capsules.
Professional Guidance and Alternatives
Despite the popularity of these trends among wellness influencers on platforms like TikTok, medical professionals remain largely cautious. Dr. Kazlouskaya explicitly stated that she does not recommend high-dose supplementation or the intentional overconsumption of carotenoid-rich foods for the purpose of changing skin color. The resulting hue is frequently described as an uneven or unnatural orange tone that varies significantly between individuals, depending on their baseline skin tone and metabolic rate. It is a cosmetic outcome that many dermatologists find aesthetically questionable and physiologically unnecessary.
For those seeking to maintain a specific skin appearance, experts continue to suggest traditional, topical self-tanners as a safer and more predictable alternative. Topical solutions provide a surface-level change without the systemic intake of high-dose pigments, thereby avoiding potential toxicity or digestive distress. The long-term health implications of sustaining high carotenoid levels for cosmetic purposes remain largely unstudied in a clinical setting, leaving current proponents to rely on anecdotal evidence rather than robust scientific consensus. As the trend persists, healthcare providers emphasize that while avoiding UV rays is beneficial for skin health, replacing it with unregulated supplement intake is not the recommended path forward for achieving a desired aesthetic result.