Tanning Bed During Pregnancy

Pregnant And Wanting A Tan?

With the onset of summer, many women will flock to tanning salons to get the perfect tan. However, if you are currently pregnant, you should research getting a tan before entering a tanning bed.

There are studies that have shown that tanning increases the risk of skin cancer in some individuals, but not enough studies have been done on pregnant women and exposure to ultraviolet light rays.

The things to consider cautiously are that during your first trimester, pregnant women are cautioned to avoid anything that raises the basal temperature such as saunas or hot tubs. This increase in temperature can lead to spina bifida and other spinal abnormalities. The ultraviolet light rays might cause genetic mutations leading to structural abnormalities. It is advised to instead keep your body as cool as possible by drinking plenty of fluids and avoiding hot tubs, etc.

Another place where women who are pregnant would want to a tan besides a tanning bed is outdoors. This should be avoided especially in the first trimester, as it will increase your basal temperature. It is better to go out protected wearing sunscreen, with a high SPF and a hat to protect the head. Some pregnant women might be more susceptible to sunstroke and this can be avoided by remaining in the shade.

Another option a pregnant woman might consider other than a tanning bed, is to get a tan using sunless tanning lotion. This allows no overheating of the body and with no exposure to ultraviolet light rays. This method might be the preferred one as long as you are past your first trimester. There is some concern that the chemicals in the tanning lotion might penetrate the skin deeper than expected and enter the bloodstream. If it enters the bloodstream, it might enter the baby's circulation.

However, with anything that is new or that a pregnant woman is concerned about, she should consult her doctor before doing or using the product or activity. This is just in case it might result in some harmful effects to the baby.

About the Author

Lashan Clarke has been has been a freelance writer for a number of years. She specializes in copywriting and is currently working on her Master’s degree in her spare time.  She is a new contributor to http://tanning-beds-n-tanning-lotions.com.

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