If you would love a sun-kissed tan to bring out your pregnancy glow, you may be considering a trip to the tanning salon to touch up your bronzed goddess skin. However, before you book your next appointment, take a look at the safety concerns that arise and consider alternative ways to get golden.
Temperature Elevation
Dehydration
Along with an increase in heat comes an increase in water loss in your body. As your temperature rises, your body attempts to compensate by sweating to help cool you down. Unfortunately, this also drains your body of water, leading to dehydration, a condition that can potentially cause miscarriage, birth defects and preterm labor, according to the American Pregnancy Association. Therefore, it's important to keep up with your fluid intake and avoid excessive heat from tanning beds during your pregnancy.
Sunburn and Skin Irritation
Some of the hormone changes going on in your body during pregnancy can cause your skin to react more sensitively to chemicals, materials and particularly the harmful UV rays of a tanning bed or the sun. While it might have taken a while to get a good glow before, it's possible that you'll end up with a sunburn much faster than you expected if you opt for a session under the tanning lamps. While sunburn is not a direct danger for your unborn baby, you already have aching muscles, a sore back, the occasional bout of morning sickness and every other pregnancy bonus to deal with right now — why add one more unnecessary discomfort to the list?
Furthermore, some women are more prone to a condition called melasma during pregnancy, points out Dr. Tanya Kormeili, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, Los Angeles. "Pregnancy hormones make several changes to the skin, including a bigger predisposition to discoloration and melasma formation. UV radiation has also been shown to induce melasma." She warns that this condition creates dark spots that often appear on the face and arms and can be brought on or worsened by the UV radiation from tanning.
Melanoma
While you're working on making your skin look good, you may be doing it harm. In fact, the use of tanning beds has been directly linked to a 75 percent increased risk of developing melanoma, a potentially deadly type of skin cancer, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. While your risk of developing melanoma is not augmented or decreased by pregnancy, your bundle of joy will soon be here and you want to be in the best health you can. If you're desperate for a golden glow, opt for a sunless tanner, advises Kormeili. You'll get that sun-kissed look you've been longing for and know you're keeping yourself in good health for your baby-to-be. Look for a lotion or cream tanner with the active ingredient dihydroxyacetone (DHA) because it is considered safe for use during pregnancy by the United States Food and Drug Administration. While spray tanners are safe for skin application, it can be difficult to avoid inhaling the fumes when you apply the fake tan.
