Can't get a straight answer on spray tans - appreciate any help

[NewbieT]

Has anyone managed to get a definitive answer to the question of whether salon spray tans are safe during pregnancy?

I looked at some old threads on here and there seems to be different information given to people.

I phoned the midwife's office - the receptionist went off to ask a midwife and came back with 'she said it's not a good idea' - but on the [[http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/955.aspx?CategoryID=54&SubCategoryID=131
NHS website]] it says it's safe (although advises a patch test).

Now, I don''t mind at all not having one if there's any risk whatsoever involved to the baby, of course that is the most important thing. But I'm feeling knackered, low and a bit miserable and I would mind missing out on a much-needed pre-holiday confidence boost just on the whim of a midwife who may not have any concrete reason for saying it's not a good idea. Surely the NHS website is going to err on the side of caution and not give advise something is safe of it's not 100% certain?

If you have got expert advice you trust on this, I'd be very grateful if you could share it.

Thanks.

The NHS website has evidence based info - I'd trust it TBH. Spray tans only affect the top layer of skin and don't go into your bloodstream, so they're considered fine. You do need a good patch test as you may have developed a reaction...and it may go blotchy because of skin changes.

Japhrimel is right. Some salons don't want to tan you because there's a possibility your skin has changed and will react differently to the tan and make you blotchy. I think that's where the idea that you can't fake tan when pregnant comes from. I've had 2 spray tans since becoming pregnant though and they've both been absolutely fine. The girl in my salon says she's never had a pregnant person come back and say the tan went wierd.

I went to a hen do with a preggo lady who owns a salon a little while ago, she seemed to know every ingredient and oil in every product the girl at the Spa was using and which she was willing to have used on her. So it looked like she knew her stuff, she had a lovely St Tropez spray tan. She just said you have to do a patch test to check you don't go a crazy colour.

Riven, very sorry to hear your experience, that's so sad.

Thanks everyone else for your replies.

I think on balance it is probably safe, the question mark I had was if you inhaled it whilst it was spraying on, so I was considering getting it done and wearing a fumes mask, but then realised I'd spent so long agonising over it it wasn't really worth it! So think I'll stick to the Johnson & Johnson's Holiday Skin just to save my sanity.

Thanks everyone.

go for it, its a great pick me up when ur feeling yuk! ive had a few wen peg couple went bit patchy on feet but on the whole made me feel great x

its fine, do a small patch test as your skin is more sensitive in pregnancy but the tan only absorbs onto the upper layers of the skin, it does not enter your blood stream.

i am tanned all year round and i enquired everywhere when pregnant it is completely safe, altho i am impressed with your energy!

Oooh not forgetting my sister who uses san tropez found that it didn't take well when she was pregnant so you may have to change your brand.

if there was a danger it would state clearly on the bottle.
x

I had spray tans all through my pregnancy & dd was just fine!!!

Sorry, being stupid, why ARE they considered dangerous? I was going to slap on some St Tropez at home tmw night, is that bad too???

They're not considered dangerous.

Do a patch test though - you can develop new sensitivities and allergies when pregnant.

I had it done too and was fine... just didn't like breathing in some of the spray... and it didn't take very well.