Is it safe to get a tan when pregnant?

[mytime777]

As it says really. I'm off on holiday in about 4 weeks and have heared from some that's it's unsafe , some have said its just that you can't tan your tummy and also others have said its fine.
I'm confused.
Can anyone enlighten me and tell me if it's safe or not and reasons?
Thanks

I think it is perfectly safe. Never stopped me - but I had Ds in the dark ages.

Ihave however heard that you don't want to overheat your bump? Is that maybe what you are thinking of?

Oh, and you may get funny patches of darker tan on your face - due to the hormones.

When I was out in the sun I made sure I didn't overheat or get burnt. We went to Greece when I was pg with DC1 and I would sit under the parasol every 10 mins or so and hold my magazine over the bump when I was out in the sun.

I did get a bit of a tan but for a sun-worshipper I was very, very, very careful.

And it was a heatwave just before DD was born and I was out sunbathing every now and then, again very careful to just sit out for a few minutes at a time.

This was over 4 years ago though so medical advice may have changed.

I think, in principle, its ok to tan, bearing in mind the two following things:

• don't over-heat (you may also want to make sure your belly specifically doesn't get too hot in direct sunlight). Also, stay very well hydrated.

• some women get the 'mask of pregnancy' - apparently pregnant women generally produce more melanin than normal. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melasma

Actually, this is a good article: www.helium.com/items/844599-dangers-of-tanning-while-pregnant

It's fine but I found both first pregnancy and now in this one, I'm more likely to burn quicker than normal, so wear a higher factor/reapply more frequently than you normally would.

I think if you are asking if it will harm your baby, then its the obvious dont' overheat, drink plenty of water, sit in the shade at regular intervals and wear sun cream.

But tanning is never safe - take it from someone who developed a malignant melanoma whilst pregnant. I wish people took it as seriously as smoking.

Enjoy your holiday.

It's unsafe to get a tan at any time, especially if you are naturally fair-skinned.

But while you're pregnant you do run the additional risk of developing dark brown splodges on your face, which are more likely the longer you spend in the sun. I think they call it the pregnancy mask.

I've just come back from a week in the sun. I got a facial sunblock to specially prevent pigmentation as I was worried about this mask of pregnancy lark. Stayed under a parasol most of the time too, but that was mainy because I got hot too quick now I'm a porker!

Being lazy haven't read thread but I expect it's the risk of being too hot doing it. You aren't supposed to use saunas and the like due to heat, so I guess it's akin. I cannot see why getting a tan in itself would be harmful. Beneficial more likely, given you'll be making Vit D...

I went on my honeymoon to the Maldives when I was 5.5 months pregnant.

I lathered my belly in factor 50, and sunbathed for short intervals. To tell you the truth, the sun was so powerful that even if I had not been pregnant, I still would have only wanted short intervals.

When I began to feel warm, I began to feel very uncomfortable at the thought that my baby was getting very warm. It wasn't paranoia, it was common sense. I am getting hot and sweaty, chances are that something inside of me is getting even hotter!

So my advise is go on holiday, enjoy the sun, but take the saying 'everything in moderation' very seriously and limit direct sun exposure. Enjoy!

Do yourself a favour and buy a swimming surf top that's supposed to block all the harmful sun rays but still enjoy the warmth of it all .
I have something like this
www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&client=safari&gl=uk&biw=320&bih=416&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=rash+vests&oq=rash+vests&aq=f&aqi=s1g2g-m1g-S1&aql=&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.3..41j0l2j0i5j0i24.6047.6323.0.6927.3.3.0.0.0.0.353.353.3-1.1.0...0.0.F7xeORFaUN0&mvs=0%23i=13

They don't do them in maternity sizes just buy a bigger one , the material is very stretchy anyway .

Once wet they act as a nice cooling device too . I love mine ! Enjoy your hol !

Stupid link !
Just google surf tops or rash vests ...

You may find your skin is far more sensitive, so you will burn more easily and you can end up getting a very blotchy tan, or uncharacteristically dark tan. A friend of mine spent the afternoon in the garden on a sunny day when pregnant, and ended up with the post-ski holiday look, big white patches where her large sunglasses were, and the rest of her face very brown.

Thanks.
Now I understand why it's not safe ( over heating etc) ( obviously aside from the normal risk of skin cancer).
I'll be covering the bump up and taking regular shade / pool breaks

i have uneven tan - very blotchy - on my face. i don't go out of my way to tan - could be worse if i did...