by Dena Clark

Created on: October 16, 2009

Is it safe to sun tan during pregnancy? Yes, it is safe but you should always check with your physician first. The sun light only effects the top layers of the skin. The UV rays don't have the potential to reach the deeper skin layers.

Tanning beds are also considered safe during pregnancy. There could be side effects to sun tanning or using a tanning bed. Such as dehydration so make sure you drink plenty of fluids when you are in the sun or tanning beds. Dehydration can cause birth defects to your unborn child. Lying in a tanning bed can raise your body temperature to a level that might be harmful to your unborn child not to mention to you also.

There are no proof that sun tanning or tanning beds are harmful to your unborn child. But there is plenty of proof that its harmful to you. There is always a risk in everything you do especially when you are pregnant . So it is up to you as the pregnant woman if you take that risk with your unborn child or not.

We discussed the sun tanning and tanning beds, what about using sun tanning lotions while you are pregnant? It is recommended to use sun tan lotion during pregnancy for your skin might be more sensitive to sun light during pregnancy. Recommended by doctors to use a sun tan lotion with higher spf in them.

Now what about self tanners are they safe to use during pregnancies?

Using self tanners increases chances of absorbing the lotion into your skin. How much gets into your bloodstream then to the placenta to the baby would be the worry. If your going to use self tanners its best to wait til your second trimester. Some doctors will say it's probably safe but others will say they'd rather you to wait after the child is born.

Always check with your physician if your in doubt and get their opinion then you take the pros and cons of the risk factor and decide if that's the risk you want to take.

So I hope every mother the best of luck on this one we have a lot of things that is a risk factor during pregnancy and we always hope we make the right decision. My honest opinion is that baby didn't ask to be conceived so the tanning isn't that important it can all wait til that baby is born.

But if you feel you need to suntan during pregnancy keep these things in mind keep yourself hydrated, do not get overheated, wear high SPF sunscreens.

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