Is tanning safe when you're pregnant?
There doesn't seem to be much evidence that tanning is bad for your unborn child but don't think you can get your JLo glow without someone telling you to play it paranoid.
All I can find is that overheating is the big worry but, interestingly, that's only applied to tanning beds. I couldn't find anything that said tanning on the beach was bad for your baby so isn't that kind of the same thing? Can your fetus tell if you're in Mexico? Sneaky bugger.
Anyway, aside from all the associated dangers that go along with tanning for you (skin cancer and a haggard face, that will be further enhanced by motherhood, and all that fun) there doesn't seem to be a problem. Keep an eye out for patches of skin that darken unevenly though – pregnancy can do some weird stuff with your homones than cause a temporary increase in your body's production of melanin. Other than that, rock that bikini hard, bitch!
As for spray tanning, you're safe there too. The main ingredient in self-tanners is a non-toxic colour additive, called DHA, that reacts with amino acids in the outer layers of the skin to creating a tan. It is only absorbed by the upper layers of skin, so it has been deemed safe in pregnancy. Most sites recommend creams, foams, etc. over a tanning booth because of the chances of inhalling the tanning spray and, as with most things, they aren't exactly sure if that's a good thing or not. As with traditional tanning, your hormones may be doing crazy things so do a trial run before you bronze it up the day before your sister's wedding in case you end up looking like mouldy raisin.
Lastly, do NOT take tanning pills or get tanning injections. I didn't even know either existed but they sound like something that's smuggled into the country and sold in Flea Markets next to the Shamwow knockoffs so I'd steer clear of those pregnant or not.
search: tanning while pregnant, dangerous tan pregnancy, sun and pregnancy
9 Comments
Reader Comments (9)
I am LOVING your site! Thank you so much for helping bust myths for women out there going through this! Having two girls myself I know how much contra-dictory info is out there.
Just to add to your sun tanning article: the main reason I was taught to avoid the sun while pregnant is because you are more likely to burn in a permanant blotchy way thank to all sorts of hormones in your system causing amongst other things, melanin, to go haywire.
Amy
Excellent point, Amy. I read up on it and, you're right, your body's production of melanin can increase while you're pregnant and because these cells don't produce extra pigment uniformly, your skin may acquire a blotchy tan. It is more common in women with darker skin tones and should fade after delivery.
This is kind of a funny one, I work outside (farm girl) and am pretty pale. Always burning never tanning. Pre-Pregnancy I was always burning blotchy and weird, 2 minutes in the sun and I was a cherry red mess. This past summer I actually TANNED. I'm dark, didn't freckle and my legs still have color in December! SO WEIRD. I guess the experiment will be to see if it goes so well next summer, maybe the hormone thing was doing wonders for my skin! (until 2ndtrimester when I got the preggo acne...haha) Love love your site!
You maybe more likely for the discoloration of the face called "preganacy mask". It's because of all the extra melanin in your system some women get this. So I'm going ghosty for now
What about getting a spray tan? Is this safe? I gave up "real" tanning long ago, but love to get a healthy glow with a Mystic Tan now and then. I haven't gotten one since finding out I was pregnant....but now my pasty skin is begging for one.
AND Vitamin D made in your skin from sunlight decreases the likelihood of heaps of diseases for you and your baby - especially Type 1 Diabetes. Just don't get burnt.
As an esthetician I will give some food for thought.
When you are exposed to UVA/UVB rays there are three chemical reactions that occur. One reaction is local and non-carcinogenic (the production of Melanin) and the other two are systemic and carcinogenic. This means that the free radical ( A free radical is any atom or molecule that has a single unpaired electron in an outer shell and is highly reactive and can cause mutation or death to a healthy cell) are in the blood supply and you could possibly be sharing those high amounts of free radicals with your baby. That being said we introduce plenty of bad stuff to our unborn through environmental factors that we can’t always control. So while you will be paying for it later (either by sacrificing your self-esteem because you look older than you are, or by forking over some major dough and a good amount of pain to a medical spa, or God forbid to an oncologist) if you’re going to tan eat plenty of foods high in antioxidants, drink plenty of water and apply coconut oil at the end of every "tanning session". This will help keep your body healthy so it can handle the stress you placing on it. If it is your nature to tan easily then go ahead and use that SPF because you will darken regardless. For those of you who want to stay healthy please consider using a physical block sunscreen (Zinc and/or titanium based). Also, let me address the "pregancy mask". Yes during pregancy your hormones are crazy and this can stimulate an uneven over production of melanin in some women ( usually medium skin types have the biggest problem with this, but melasma is no racist...it loves all) and if the stimulation is too much then the melanicytes become damaged and you have to deal with it for the rest of your life and just a simple hormone surge or you getting overheated will trigger it. If your worried about this then I would suggest rockin the giant floppy hat with that belly! If your worried about Vit. D then spend about 10-15 minutes a day outside in the sun. Keep in mind that wearing sunscreen will prevent you from getting adequate vitamin D outdoors. In the summertime, an easy solution is skipping sunscreen on your legs for the first 15 minutes in the sun. Just make sure you apply in time to prevent any burns or damage.
I've heard that tanning your nipples can help harden them and prepare them for breastfeeding, which sounds way better than other things I've heard to prepare them.
Check out this website for great information about exposures!
http://www.ttis.unt.edu/