Tanning Beds During Pregnancy

Tanning Beds During Pregnancy. As there are numerous things to avoid while pregnant, there may come a time when you wonder whether using tanning beds during pregnancy could have unwanted effects for you or your baby. In order to answer this question, we need to see how exactly tanning beds work and how do they affect our bodies.

How to tanning beds work and how do they affect us?

A tanning bed is a special device that emits UVA and UVB (ultraviolet) radiation, mimicking the sun’s effect on our skin. Their purpose is to get a sun tan when the weather is not suitable to get a natural one. There are some who believe that a tanning bed is actually healthier than sitting under the sun. Phosphor blend fluorescent lamps are usually used with a combination of reflection systems and filters to generate the cosmetic tan.

The only two known and demonstrated benefits of tanning beds are a controlled tanning environment and minimized risk of sunburn from overexposure. As for the risks of tanning beds, the main focus is on skin cancer. Studies have repeatedly shown that overexposure to ultraviolet radiation increases the chances of skin cancer. Apart from that, DNA mutations, slightly compromised immune system and wrinkling of the skin are also linked to ultraviolet radiation. Overuse of tanning beds is thought to triple the chances of developing the deadliest of skin cancers – melanoma.

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How Tanning Can Effect Your Baby?

Using a tanning bed during a pregnancy poses a primary risk for you, first of all. But there is nothing to worry about if you know your limits, wear proper protection and avoid overexposure. However, there are some specialists who propose a few theories which may explain how tanning beds could harm your baby.

Although a tanning bed is properly ventilated, there is always the risk of overheating. A sudden, major increase in body temperature could expose your baby to hyperthermia. This in turn can lead to birth defects. It is advised that you use a tanning booth rather than a tanning bed and that you properly hydrate yourself and your skin.

Folic acid levels – a substance that is vital for a normal baby development - are thought to drop considerably during the use of a tanning bed. A folic acid deficiency may lead to your baby having spina bifida (split spine).

There are no written reports on these issues, however. Using tanning beds during pregnancy is thought by the medical community as being safe for the baby. This is because the ultraviolet light is not able to pierce through that much tissue and reach the baby. And even if it would reach it, the intensity would be too low in order to cause any damage. Also, it is a well known fact that a baby’s skin is fairly transparent throughout most of its life in the womb, making it even less likely that it could be affected.

The main concern is your skin and your health. Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, whether it comes from the sun or a tanning bed - can lead to serious medical conditions. Talk with your doctor about using tanning beds during pregnancy.

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