Pregnancy & Tanning
What is safe for you and your baby? Mummy's to be..... are you wondering how you can still look tanned and gorgeous during your pregnancy? During anyone's pregnancy everyone seems to offer their advise, even perfect strangers. With so much information coming your way, as well intended as it may be, it can get confusing and sometimes a bit overwellming. When it comes to tanning during your pregnancy I have some tips as well as the facts on what is safe for your baby. Facts about pregnancy During your pregnancy your hormones will be up, down and all over the place. This will effect your skin and how it reacts to the Sun and tanning beds. Your skin will be more photo-sensitive, which means you will burn easier than you normally would. You may also be prone to getting pigmentation from UV exposure, known as the pregnancy mask. This pigmentation usually disappears or lightens after you give birth, but in some cases you could be stuck with it. Doctors do advise pregnant women to keep their body temperature down during pregnancy, especially during the first trimester. Increasing your body temperature can lead to birth defects. This is why you are advised to stay out of hot tubs and saunas. Tanning beds There is no scientific evidence to show that tanning beds are harmful to your baby. UVB rays used in tanning beds are the same ones we are exposed to by the sun, and they cannot penetrate to the womb. Tanning in a tanning bed can get very hot, so it is probably wise to steer clear of a tanning bed in the first trimester. Consult your Doctor if you have any concerns. If you are using tanning beds during your pregnancy, make sure you drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated and your body temperature cool.
The Sun The Sun’s UV rays cannot penetrate into the womb, so Sun exposure is perfectly safe for your baby. If you are choosing to tan in the sun while you are pregnant, keep in mind you will be more likely to burn. Wear an SPF and keep re-applying to avoid getting burnt. Like tanning beds, keep up your fluids to stay well hydrated and keep your core body temperature down.
Self tan & spray tan Self tanning lotions you apply at home and spray tans are perfectly safe for you and your baby. Tanning lotions work by tanning the top layers of dead skin cells. They don’t penetrate into the blood stream so the ingredients used will not reach your baby. All the ingredients used in tanning lotions have been approved as safe by the FDA. DHA used in the majority of tanning lotions has been around for about 40 years. If it had any side affects to you during pregnancy, I am sure we would be aware of it by now. If you are a little worried about the fumes you may inhale during a spray tan, I advise wearing a mask or just simply giving it a miss. I was still spray tanning during my pregnancy and I wore a mask to stop the fumes being inhaled. It may also be an idea to have someone help you apply your self tan, to ensure you get an even coverage
For breast-feeding mothers I would advise not applying tanning lotion or spray tan to the breast area.
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