Will eating “photosensitive foods” make your skin darker more easily?

Not really

The statement that your skin is more likely to tan after eating "photosensitive foods" is not entirely correct and there is not enough scientific evidence to support it.

Although some foods do contain photosensitizers that may increase the skin's response to UV rays, this increase does not directly cause the skin to darken.

So-called photosensitive foods, such as citrus fruits, celery, and carrots, contain some photosensitive substances, such as furanocoumarins. These substances may cause phototoxic reactions when the skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays, manifesting as skin inflammation such as redness, itching, and even sunburn.

However, these inflammatory reactions are not equivalent to darkening of the skin. Because the main reason for skin tanning is the direct impact of ultraviolet rays on the skin. After normal sun exposure, ultraviolet rays will stimulate the melanocytes in the skin, increase the production of melanin and redistribute the melanin stored in the epidermis. These are the skin's natural defense mechanisms to protect deep tissues from ultraviolet damage.

Although common photosensitive foods may increase sensitivity to the sun, they do not directly accelerate the production of melanin or cause the skin to darken more easily.

Author: Tang Jiaoqing, MD, attending physician of dermatology

Review | Feng Jun, deputy chief physician of the Dermatology Department of Sinopharm Tongmei General Hospital