Is Tanning safe while pregnant

Doctors discourage pregnant women from tanning. Though there is no proven study that tanning while pregnant has a direct harm to fetus, but anything that elevates body temperature is absolutely harmful. Pregnancy and tanning is a topic that comes up during tanning season as well as through out the entire year. Tanning bed has a UVA and UVB that penetrates to the layer of the epidermis and sometimes may also reach the subcutaneous layer of our skin. During pregnancy, the hormones produced changes affects mood of expectant mother, like emotional changes, anxiety and tension. When it comes to tanning, pregnant women and the salon owners must bear in mind several factors when deciding in an indoor tanning.  Even when it comes to sun tanning, expectant mothers should think twice before doing so. One of the biggest worry in regards to tanning and pregnancy lies with the possibility of dehydration or overheating which is referred to as hyperthermia. The first trimester of pregnancy is the most critical stage. This is where important organs of baby is developed. There is certain study that associated extreme hyperthermia to birth defects such as heart failure, incomplete abdominal wall and problem with the development of the nervous system. Though this kind of problem is rare, and have not been proven to indoor or outdoor tanning, regulatory standards limit the utmost temperature for commercial tanning devices to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. In the third trimester of pregnancy, Doctors report that a normal fetus is less sensitive with heat, although precautionary measure should be exercised. When considering the heat of a tanning bed, pregnant women should follow common sense. But if tanning cannot be avoided, pregnant women should drink plenty of water and when a pregnant woman feels uncomfortable stop the tanning session immediately.

 

When a woman is pregnant, estrogen and progesterone influence the hormone that stimulate the production of skin pigmentation called chloasma, vigorous stimulation project an exaggerated chloasma around the neck, dace, armpit and other parts of the body. Neither tanning beds nor sun tanning has a direct effect on the formation of chloasma. Even though it is clearly understood that UVB or UVA cannot reach the womb

 Salon owners have a very strict rule not to allow pregnant women in indoor tanning. And if a pregnant customer will insist a medical permission from an OBGYN is secured. But in any case salon owners will have the prerogative whether or not they should allow a pregnant woman in tanning. The controversies about pregnancy and tanning rise up to some Physicians, though it has been noted that UVA and UVB cannot penetrate into mother’s womb, but the heat that comes from a tanning bed is harmful for both the fetus and the mother.

 

Whether tanning can effect during pregnancy or not, the best practice here is precautions and avoiding certain activity when it can be avoided and most of all seek advice from the Doctors.