Pregnancy and tanning bed use
Two things that definitely don't go together are pregnancy and tanning bed use. Pregnant mothers have a lot to deal with: from body issues, what to eat and not to eat, as well as exercise and lifestyle habits-pregnant mothers have to handle it all and do what they feel works in the best interest of their baby.
While being tanned is a main goal for some, very few tanning options are healthy for a pregnant mother to follow. Medical experts advise that pregnant women avoid tanning in the sun as well as in a tanning bed until well after the first trimester of pregnancy. However, even after the first trimester, pregnancy and tanning bed use is one practice that is not highly recommended. Using a tanning bed tends to negatively affect the skin and has even been shown to weaken and suppress the immune system in women that are not pregnant. Add an unborn baby into the equation and you could potentially be putting your baby's health at risk.
The large amount of ultraviolet rays emitted from tanning beds can affect the baby just as much as the mother, if not more. Scores of medical studies have found evidence to support the notion that frequent tanning sessions exposes the fetus to unhealthy levels of radiation, which can negatively affect the production of folic acid, which can lead to fetal developmental issues such as spina bifida. Additionally, since tanning beds have also been linked to skin cancer, using a tanning bed during pregnancy should be avoided at all costs until the baby has been born.
Using a tanning bed normally is not recommended by medical experts so it only makes sense to use proper judgment when it comes to pregnancy and tanning bed use. Pregnant mothers hoping for a bronzed body are better off sticking with a sunless tanning product that doesn't need actual ultraviolet rays to darken the skin.
