A pregnant woman who has been doing body tanning in a salon prior to pregnancy now has a decision to make. Since more people are turning to sunless tanning to avoid the direct rays of the sun, continued use of a tanning bed during pregnancy is a major decision. Can a pregnant woman get a safe tan this way? There isn’t much information available to support the decision to avoid this kind of tanning method or to continue on with a regular schedule of tanning. However, it is wise to speak to your doctor and be aware of some things that are important for the fetus.
Tanning the body has been taking a lot of heat recently because of decisions made by the World Health Organization. The UV rays used by tanning beds have been classified at the most dangerous level, meaning they definitely do cause cancer. Repeated exposure to those types of rays will increase one’s chances of getting sick, and for a pregnant woman this could cause problems for the fetus. While it is unknown if the dangerous rays can directly affect the fetus, any negative changes to the mother’s body will have an impact on the unborn child.
Another concern about body tanning when pregnant is the heated room and bed that the woman is in. The tanning process in a salon requires high levels of energy, and thus the small rooms are very warm. Pregnant women tend to feel warmer than normal due to the action of the hormones in their bodies, and added heat can cause problems for the woman. Blood pressure is very important during pregnancy and extra heat may cause either an increase in blood pressure or a sudden drop, which can cause fainting. During the third trimester, blood pressure is very important and if it is too high, not only is the baby at risk, but so is the mother. Premature births may occur, or the mother may need an emergency C-section if she develops pre-eclampsia or eclampsia due to high blood pressure.
Whether or not a mother should be tanning her body while pregnant will largely depend on her own physical well-being. While one woman may be able to visit tanning salons on a regular basis throughout the pregnancy with no discernable negative effects, another woman may experience problems with even limited exposure to a tanning bed.
Thus, it is extremely important that body tanning during pregnancy is done cautiously. Some cities will not allow a pregnant woman to use a tanning bed, and some responsible tanning salons will ask if you are pregnant to warn you of possible dangers. If your pregnancy is normal and you are in good health, then there may be little risk, but on the other hand, the body can change suddenly when exposed to added heat, so it is recommended that you consult with your physician first.