To think about using a sunbed when pregnant?

[coffeeforone]

Just that really. I’m almost 18 weeks and have a couple of summer holidays to Spain. Despite the risks which I am fully aware of, I would usually have a few short sessions in the few weeks leading up as I have found it really helps prevent prickly heat, and a ‘base tan’ prevents my skin burning in the sun.

I’ve read that skin can me more sensitive when pregnant which is why it’s not advised so obviously I’d go on for the minimum time and stop if there was any sign of an adverse reaction.

Has anyone else considered using a sunbed when pregnant?

no and i wouldnt sunbathe either

wear lots of protection and stay in the shade

Sunbeds are dangerous in any circumstances, never worth the risk of skim cancer. Maybe have a spray tan?

I don’t want to sound patronising but you can’t be aware of the risks - if you truly were you’d never set foot in a tanning salon again.

As I said I’ve worked on melanoma drug trials - part of my job was to screen patients to ensure they met the entry criteria. The number of women in their late thirties to fifties with ‘occasional sunbed use’ in their histories was sobering to say the least. These were not tanning addicts, they were women doing exactly what you’re doing - quick top up before jetting off somewhere nice, few sessions before a wedding. Genuinely not heavy use. Every single one of them in that trial was terminal. We were just buying them time. It was such a disturbing experience to even work on, I can’t imagine what they went through

Skin cancer - the melanoma type - terrifies me. You often don’t even get a dodgy mole as a warning - plenty of people get it diagnosed and they never even find the original tumour - only the multiple metastatic ones that kill them.

I know I can’t tell you what to do, it’s your body and your choice and I may sound like I’m mithering but I’d beg anyone to not use sunbeds.

I will never forget the 26 year Scottish woman dying of her metastatic malignant melanoma she was first diagnosed with when she was in her late teens. She had just married, her and her husband had been trying for a baby, she thought her feeling sickness may be early pregnancy, only to be told that she had liver/lung/stomach/brain mets. She died a horrific death.

This was 25 years ago and still think of her and her devastated husband from time to time.

She used sunbeds once a year before their hard earned annual holiday to get a 'base tan'.

Just sayin'.

Really, OP, properly inform yourself. Malignant melanoma from sunbed use is not just some kind of theoretical concept that only happens to Other People.

While you are growing a whole new human inside you, which requires lots of LOTS of cell division, your skin is very responsive and 'activated', your immune system is slightly reduced (the new human is after all only 50% yours; if baby were a donated kidney you'd need to take anti rejection drugs for the rest of your life whereas babies we just tolerate - well, mostly) and pigmentation, moles, skin tags can all appear wihtout the added provocation of intensive light radiation.

Embrace your porcelain skin. I don't really get the tan obsession anyway. Weird.

Oh my god. I cannot believe this post is for real!!!

I will not put the comment I am tempted to write as it would probably be reported, but it is something to do with frying and brain cells.

Those stats from sunbeds are horrifying.

There are two other products that are dangerous when used correctly but are still legal. Cigarettes and socket covers.

I think the op gets it, if only to avoid chloasma.

prickly heat is caused by blocked sweat glands - this often occurs in hot weather when you are using waterproof sunscreen as you sweat a lot but the sweat can't escape. To prevent it, make sure that you regularly exfoliate those areas when you have been using sunscreen.

You sound really daft! You are white because you have white skin why we all think a tan is so desirable I don’t know.

special subject - "socket covers" - what cancer risk have I not been freaking out about? Literally never heard of this - please advise what I need to be removing from my house stat??

Science aside.
Tans make your skin go ‘tan old leather handbag’ around the age of 45.
That’s fine but it isn’t natural ageing and it isn’t something you can reverse.
It just isn’t worth it.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername

"Wouldn't go near one under any circumstances, and certainly not while pregnant."

^This.

People clearly missing the point of what you're asking here aren't they op!

I do the same and like to go on for a few short sessions before a holiday. I have never done it during pregnancy though- apparently it poses no extra risk to the baby , but ive heard your skin is more sensitive during pregnancy and so for that reason it's considered more high risk then going on them when not pregnant.

I suffered terribley from prickly heat until I started using piz buen allergy sun cream. I hardly get any now but if i do get a patch then good old fashioned sudacreme gets rid of it overnight

I had hired one in 1996 (when you got one delivered and put it above your bed) then discovered I was expecting, didn’t use it don’t know how I knew not to didn’t read any pregnancy/parenting things but knew it wasn’t a wise move

The woman in our local salon looks ancient and her neck is like a wrinkled old handbag. I just can’t bring myself to use them despite doing it in the past.

OP google prickly heat or better, try to see a practice nurse or doctor. Had it as a child in a v hot country - we used calamine lotion but not sure if it helped apart from being soothing.

Antihistamines are the only thing that work for my prickly heat. I don't know if they can be taken in pregnancy?

Skinny Tan spray is a great fake for pale skin.

I think the op gets it, if only to avoid chloasma.

I has been amazing me for 25 years in dermatology how the 'you may get cancer and die' often has less effect than 'you will age and go wrinkly with lots of liver spots early'

Actinic or solar elastosis

@PerfectlyDone your link is something rather different and in Italian.

Oh dear, that is indeed NOT what I linked to, but looks like a good holiday destination?

You might be better doing an image search for solar elastosis yourself as I clearly cannot be trusted.

apparently it poses no extra risk to the baby

Besides the fact that the baby's mother is increasing her risk of dying young and not seeing her LO grow up or having to go through rounds of chemo and putting her child through the trauma just so that she could sit on holiday looking a bit browner?

I used to use them when I was very young and regret it now. Have been referred twice for suspicious looking moles. So far been ok but I wish I could go back to my younger self now and shake her!

I developed chloasma when pregnant with my 3rd baby... I have dark patches on my face I was told would disappear after i'd given birth. 11 years later I still have them and any sun makes them darker and very noticeable.

Wouldn’t use one ever let alone when pregnant. If you’re worried about prickly heat or getting burnt, stay out of the sun, wear loose clothing and use factor 50.