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Tanning Bed During Pregnancy
Should You Use a Tanning Bed While Pregnant?
Using a tanning bed during your pregnancy can
potentially have serious consequences for your baby and
overall health. In addition to skin damage, premature
aging and increased risk for skin cancer, tanning lamps
can also contribute to several birth defects such as
spinal bifida and other spinal malformations. Although
research has not yet proven a direct correlation between
the two, it is probably wise to avoid the tanning salon
while pregnant.
Ultraviolet light contributes to the breakdown of folic
acid in the body, which protects against neural tube
defects. Although research regarding the effects of
indoor tanning on pregnancy is preliminary, extended
exposure has been linked to folic acid deficiency. It is
difficult to say what type of effect a tanning bed will
have on the organs of a developing baby.
Certain women develop increased sensitivity to the sun
while pregnant. Some women develop a condition called
chloasma during pregnancy, of which the main symptom is
irregular dark patches on the skin. Chloasma is an
indication of higher level of photosensitivity than
normal, which increases the risk of melanoma and other
forms of skin cancer. This occurs because pregnancy
elevates the level of hormones which produce excessive
pigmentation.
Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light can aggravate
the severity of this condition. Since tanning beds can
emit a dose of ultraviolet light two to three times
higher than natural light, tanning beds are probably not
safe for pregnant women.
Tanning beds can also raise body temperatures to unsafe
levels for the baby. This is a serious health risk, as
elevated body temperatures during pregnancy have been
linked with spinal malformations. Your baby is
particularly vulnerable to these types of complications
during the first trimester.
If you have specific concerns about indoor tanning, you
should address them to your doctor. Some physicians
recommend that tanning beds should be avoided
altogether, while others maintain that limited use is
acceptable. With the controversy surrounding indoor
tanning, it is advisable to choose another tanning
alternative.
If you are expecting, there are safer tanning options
than using a tanning bed during pregnancy. Self tanners
and lotions can give you that golden glow quickly and
safely. The ingredients in sunless tanning products are
harmless and only penetrate the surface layer of the
skin.
However, there has been some concern over one particular
ingredient in sunless tanning lotions. DHA, which is
what reacts with amino acids to turn your skin brown,
can have negative effects if absorbed into the blood
stream. However, this ingredient has been in use in many
cosmetic products and there have been no reports of
negative consequences so far. However, as a safety
precaution, some doctors advise not to use sunless
tanning products during the first three months of
pregnancy.
Using a tanning bed during pregnancy can have serious
implications for you and your baby’s health. Sunless
tanning products are a much safer alternative than
indoor tanning, but can still have some unexpected
effects. Therefore, when it comes to tanning, it is
generally best to err on the side of caution and avoid
the tanning salon indefinitely.
About the Author
Andrea Pellettiere has been has been a freelance
writer for a number of years. She is a regular a
contributor to http://tanning-beds-n-tanning-lotions.com.
More Tanning Bed Safety Articles
Are Tanning Beds Worth the Risk?
The Debate on Tanning Bed Safety
Should You Use a Tanning Bed While Pregnant?
Preventing Sun Poisoning From Tanning Beds
Health Risks from Indoor Tanning
Should You Use a Tanning Bed Accelerator Lotion?
Do Tanning Beds Really Cause Cancer?
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