By now you probably know it’s not safe to lie out in the sun or tan in a tanning bed when you are pregnant. If you love the look of tan skin, you may be considering a self tanner. This seems like the perfect solution, but is it safe? Unfortunately, there is no clear cut answer to this question.
The reason there is no clear answer is that there haven’t been any studies on the effects of home tanning products. While there is no evidence that they are harmful, there is no clear evidence that they are safe either. Until there is a study conducted, we can’t know for sure.
If you must tan, using a self tanner is better than a tan in the sun or a tanning salon. The main risk for you from tanning is skin cancer later in life. There are known negative effects to the baby if mom spends a lot of time sun tanning during pregnancy. Studies have been conducted to determine the effect of tanning on the fetus.
Overheating is the biggest danger to your baby. When you spend time lying out in the hot sun, your body can get overheated. If you are overheated, your baby is hot as well. Overheating can result in an increased risk of neural tube defects, if you are in the first trimester.
Later in the pregnancy, dehydration is a concern. When you spend a lot of time out in the heat and the sun, you can become dehydrated. It’s important to limit the time you spend outside on very hot days. Dehydration can happen quickly. If you are outside, it’s important to drink water to avoid dehydration.
If you decide to use a self tanner, look for natural products. An all natural self tanner won’t contain petroleum based ingredients or other harmful, artificial substances. You can find natural self tanners in health food stores and on the internet. Read the ingredients carefully to be sure they are all natural. Words such as “organic” and “all natural” aren’t regulated by any governmental agency in skin care and beauty products.
Before using any self tanning product, you should speak to your health care provider. Bring the bottle to your appointment. Your midwife or doctor is the best source of information regarding the safety of your favorite self tanner.
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