Tanning When Pregnant

[mother2b]

i really liked going tanning am only 10+2 but i just want to go to my local tanning salon for just a few minutes i have over 120 minutes left to use and know i prob wont get time when the baby comes, i dont want to waste them.
i want to tan
does any one on here go tanning?
is it safe?

i cant see why it would be so bad?

[mother2b]

i thought that being in the sun for 15 mins per day was supposed to be good for vitimin D or something?

surely tanning is exactly the same?

[Brangelina]

It's risky as you may end up with a "pregnancy mask" which never goes away. Also, do bear in mind that your skin changes during pregnancy and may be more sensitive, plus the heat probably isn't good for baby - I know I never went to a salon in pregnancy, I probably would have fainted. Having said that, in the final months (DD was a summer baby) I was on the beach along with everyone else, but avoided the central hours and stayed in the sahde when it was too hot.

[PinkTulips]

skin is very sensitive when preg, i got horribly burned last year al over my bump and chest and it took ages to heal

that was on the beach for 1/2 hour.

[lulumama]

what brangelina said
also, sunbeds are bad for you anyway

sit in the sunshine, with some suncream on, you'll still get a bit of colour,or have a fake tan

[dollyk]

be carefull sometimes when you are pregnant you can get a thing called pregnancy mask or something like that a friend of mine got it and its never really gone only faded its like pigmentation she got it mostly on her face

[tulip27]

The tanning mask is a big problem, you could end up scared for life. Also most tanning places wont let you use them when pregnant and you are 10 times more likley to burn.x

[lulumama]

COPIED AND PASTED FROM BABYCENTRE


Is it safe to sunbathe or use a sunbed during pregnancy?


Anna McGrail answers:

Many experts advise that getting a tan - whether in a salon or in the sun - is not a good idea whether you're pregnant or not. A tan is your skin's attempt to protect itself from the damage caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation; there is evidence that prolonged exposure to UV rays exacerbates the effects of ageing and also increases the risk of developing a malignant melanoma (skin cancer).

Many women find during pregnancy that their skin is more sensitive and that they are much more susceptible to sunburn. If this applies to you, be liberal in your use of sunscreen and avoid the sun where possible. In pregnancy, levels of melanocyte-stimulating hormone are higher in the body, and this makes pregnant women prone to excessive skin pigmentation. If you get chloasma (the irregular dark patches on facial skin called the "mask of pregnancy"), it can be a sign that your skin will react more strongly to sunlight than usual, so take more care. The chloasma may be increased if you sunbathe or use a sunbed. In addition, lying in the hot sun for hours on end increases the risk of overheating and dehydration - neither of which are good for you or your developing baby.

Regular use of tanning beds is a fairly recent trend and there is little research on their effects in pregnancy. Also, no definitive studies have been carried out about how exposure either to sunlight or to artificial ultraviolet rays affects a developing baby. Some preliminary studies suggest there may be a possible link between exposure to ultraviolet rays and folic acid deficiency. This is because folic acid can be broken down by strong sunlight. In the first few weeks of pregnancy, high levels of folic acid help protect against neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, in the developing baby. While further studies have yet to be done, these initial studies suggest that intense or prolonged exposure to UV light should be avoided around the time of conception and in early pregnancy. After the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, all the developing baby's major organs have been formed and any risks are reduced.

So don't worry if you spend a peaceful afternoon in the sun - as long as you guard against overheating - but you may want to avoid tanning beds until more evidence is available, simply because we can't be certain that there is no risk. If you have a skin problem that responds well to controlled light treatment, ask for a referral to a dermatology department so that your treatment can be properly controlled to keep any damaging effects to a minimum.

If you desperately want to be brown, the current medical opinion seems to be that it's much safer to use fake tanning lotions - and much easier as well! If you decide to take this option, do a patch test first, even if it's a lotion you have used before. Your skin may be more sensitive during pregnancy and therefore more prone to irritation than usual.

[mother2b]

whats a pregnancy mask?

[lulumama]

you can get an increase in pigmentation when you are pregnant...chloasma or pregnancy mask, forms a butterfly shape almost over your eyes, nose and cheeks...not madly obvious ,but can be seen...

[Brangelina]

It's the chloasma described below. Couldn't remember the proper word for it. Anyway, if you get that it stays with you for life and reappears every time you get a tan.

[mother2b]

[Cyee]

It's daylight that's good for Vit D, not necessarily the sun.

Some people do get Chloasma (sp?) when they're pg though, and I think this can be made worse by the sun?

Other than that, don't have any advice, sorry. I'm sure everything in moderation is ok.

[Cyee]

Oops - that'll teach me to get distracted and spend 30 mins on a post!!!

[Egg]

I used to go tanning and stopped when I found out I was pregnant. I just didn't think it could possibly be good for the baby, those tanning booths are so hot and it's not worth it just to look good. Don't see anything wrong with sitting in the garden for a while, as long as you don't overdo it.

I found it really hard at first as i was so used to having a tan in summer, but now I am just relieved as I think I was a bit of a tan addict .

[mother2b]

im starting to wonder if there are any benefits to being pregnant

apart from the beginning

and of course the end result

[Brangelina]

Well, you don't have to hold your tummy in any more....

[Egg]

Oh the whole nine months is fab .

[Y0rkshirelass]

How interesting, I have never heard of 'pregnancy mask'.
M2B - Surely the exfoliation and cream-rubbing-in of fake tanning would be better for your skin (and perhaps help lessen the effects of stretchmarks)?

[mother2b]

I have been trying not to make love because of spotting!

I have rubbish hair(even though i was it every other day)

I have rubbish skin )even though i use an apricot face scrub then spot killing moisturiser)

I have hairy boobs(which hurt relentlessly)

I cant smoke (which i cant really complain about but i will any way!)

Im going to get fat(ter)

Im going to get lots of stretch mark

I feel sick from first time i eat through to when i go to sleep

I keep forgetting to take my folic acid then beat my self up all day about it!

All i can do is worry that afterwards DP isnt going to' ahem' reach the sides if you know what i mean

AND i cant go tanning!

camels backs and straw springs to mind

[MrsBadger]

ah, you have missed two vital points

• you can eat what you like and no-one can take the piss
  
  
• you get to buy a whole lot of new clothes

[Y0rkshirelass]

Don't forget

• you can also tell people what you really think and then blame it on 'the hormones'
  
  
• you (should) always get a seat on the bus/train and be allowed to push to the front of the queue in the ladies.

[RGPargy]

Plus, getting a tan will inevitably make you look older as the sun and smoking ages your skin dramatically.

So thank your baby that you will keep looking young!!

[mother2b]

re the telling people what they think and blaming it on hormones, i did that pre pregnancy so its not really a novelty

[lucylala]

i went on a sunbed till I was 24 weeks (only about 3 o r 4 times) - i was fine but did feel guilty about it