Indoor Tanning While Pregnant: Is it Safe?
A tan or healthy glow can apparently make you look ten years younger. At the time when many women are not feeling as sexy as they once were, during pregnancy – is it safe to partake in sunless tanning? Can the harmful UVA and UVB rays be emitted through the skin into the unborn child? These and many other questions are common of all sun-worshipping new moms. What are the answers? Read on to find out all that a new mom should know before making the decision to tan with the use of a tanning bed.
The main concern that health professionals, obstetricians and gynaecologists and midwives have with the tanning is its ability to raise the body temperature. For those new moms who have tanned for years – they know how hot it gets inside one of those tanning beds in the last few minutes of the session. Overheating is a main concern of professionals, especially during the first trimester of the pregnancy when the baby is at the highest risk.
The indication is that pregnant mothers should avoid any activities that significantly raise their body temperature. This includes; saunas, hot tubs, long hot steamy baths, steam rooms or even tanning beds.
Hyperthermia is the condition in which the mother overheats and it has been correlated with spinal cord malformations of the foetus. Although it most often develops after the mother has been at a temperature of 102 degrees for several hours, risks should not be taken with activities such as tanning or soaking in hot water for long periods of time.
Although there have been no documented cases of hyperthermia and exposure to tanning beds health professionals say the risk is not worth the outcome. Tanning beds are limited at a maximum temperature of a hundred degrees, but it is indeed recommended that tanning be avoided for the first trimester.
Research has shown the skin to be more sensitive while pregnant due to the influx or hormones within the body. Sensitive skin should be not exposed to tanning beds on a regular basis.
Should the mom wish to tan regardless of the risks they should do so on their sides to reduce the risk of stopping the blood flow. As well, adequate eye protection should be worn at all times and lotion should be liberally applied to any sensitive areas, some recommend covering any sensitive areas with a towel while in the tanning bed. Alternatively, stand up tanning beds may come with the option as being not so warm – and leave the mother more room to stretch.
Although there has been little research on the safety of tanning during pregnancy – it is important that expectant mothers understand the potential risks of doing so. Some salons go as far as requiring a letter from a health professional before allowing the expectant mother to tan; others limit the exposure of the expectant mother in the tanning bed.
Regardless, the waiver that is signed before entering the tanning bed ultimately put the fault of any risk that occurs in the person wishing to tan. This should give some sort of clue to the dangers of the activity.