Can you tan while pregnant

Track my baby. Most popular in Pregnancy. See all in Community. See all in Getting Pregnant. See all in Pregnancy. See all in Preschooler. See all in Life as a Parent. See all in Video. You might also like You might also like. Skin changes during pregnancy. Activities to avoid during pregnancy Video. Is it safe to dye my hair during pregnancy? Get the BabyCentre app. Brazil Canada Germany India.

Connect with us. This Internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Long hours in the sun that result in burning should be avoided.

This may be the best option if you are pregnant. Avoiding UV rays will ensure healthier skin and less chance of skin cancer, hives or worsened chloasma. There are so many different kinds of sunless tanning lotions, creams, and foams that have very good results. Many of the new varieties have minimal odor and provide immediate color. The only concern is whether the active ingredient, dihydroxyacetone DHA , is able to penetrate the skin. Studies do not confirm that it can, but some health care providers encourage women to wait until after the first trimester, just to play it safe.

DHA has been used in cosmetics since and no problems have been reported. Even if you have used sunless tanners before, try a patch of skin first. Your skin may be more sensitive and irritable during pregnancy. Learn more about your skin changes during pregnancy. Pregnancy and Tanning.

The Safety of Tanning While Pregnant Regardless of whether you are pregnant or not, exposure to the sun puts you at risk for premature aging and malignant melanoma skin cancer.

In a Bed There are no studies that provide conclusive evidence that tanning beds directly harm your baby. On the Beach Many of the concerns about beach sun are the same as tanning beds. From a Bottle This may be the best option if you are pregnant. Want to Know More? Can I get pregnant if…? This is a non-toxic substance that reacts with cells in the outermost layer of the skin and produces a brown pigment colour called melanoidin.

As DHA isn't thought to go beyond the outer layer of skin, it isn't absorbed into the body and can't harm your baby. But it's probably best to avoid spray tans, because the effects of inhaling the spray are not known. Page last reviewed: 3 August Next review due: 3 August Home Common health questions Pregnancy Back to Pregnancy. Are sunbeds safe to use during pregnancy? UV damage Sunbeds give out ultraviolet UV rays, which is the same type of harmful radiation found in sunlight.

Read more about sunbed safety Sensitive skin and pregnancy The skin is more sensitive during pregnancy, which can mean it's more likely to burn in the sun or if you use a sunbed. Your unborn baby There is currently no clear evidence about the effect of UV rays from sunbeds on an unborn baby.

Fake tan It's generally considered safe to use fake tan creams and lotions during pregnancy. Further information Are sunbeds safe? Is it safe to use fake tan during pregnancy?