For those women out there who are preggers, spray tanning may seem like something you’d want to put off, but there are solutions to the problems that self tanning poses. There are two ways that you can get yourself that perfect tanned look, either by laying down on a tanning bed and waiting for it to do its job, or using self tanning lotions or sprays that you can apply yourself before stepping outside. There are certain things that need to be kept in mind when it comes to tanning, like how it is not recommended to use tanning beds during this period, especially when you’re in your first trimester. Tanning beds like the sun give off UV rays, where lying on a tanning bed could at some point through the session, increase your body temperature. Doctors always advise expectant mothers to be careful about raising their normal body temperatures that can happen in a sauna, hot tub or in this case a tanning bed, because it can cause spinal malformations in the developing fetus within the womb.
Even lying down on a tanning bed can obstruct blood flow from going to your heart, doing the same for your baby. That is why it is highly recommended that you go the spray tanning way to ensure that you aren’t risking yourself and your baby from any complications. Self spray tanning / lotions and can be applied onto the skin from the comfort of your home, without having to go to a salon or anything to have it sprayed on if you choose to not visit one. We’ll take a look at why spray tanning is a far better option than using a tanning bed, and answer the much asked question of is spray tanning safe during pregnancy.
Is Spray Tanning Safe During Pregnancy?
Effects of Spray Tanning While Pregnant.
Spray tanning lotions are those that cannot permeate the skin layer, but rather sits atop it to give it a deeper color than one’s actual pigmentation. It is safe to say that pregnant women and their babies are at no risk when it comes to spray tanning lotions. DHA which is an active ingredient in self tanning lotions, is a safe element that can be sprayed onto the skin. It is best though for mothers to wait till after their first trimester to spray these on, just to remain cautious nonetheless. It is important to put a mask on before spray tanning yourself, to avoid breathing in the fumes. There are places that you can go to if you’d like someone to carefully and professionally apply spray tanning / lotion on you, while using the necessary protective measures of covering your face to avoid inhalation.
Always test the sprays / lotions onto your skin before completely applying it. This is done by spraying a little of the tanning lotion on your skin and waiting for 24 hours to see whether you react to it or not. The ingredients used in what are known as 8hr spray tanning / lotions have been approved by the FDA as safe. There have been no reported side effects so this should allow mothers to breathe out a sigh of relief. For those who are breast feeding, it is advisable to apply the spray/lotion away from this area. Avoid using what is know as the 2hr rapid tan sprays/lotions, since these speed up the process of tanning one’s skin. The problem here is that a chemical which has been added to this particular kind of spray tanning / lotion, lessens the time it takes for the skin to develop that tanned look. Anything done sooner than the usual 8hr gap, has skin absorbers in them to make the skin produce a tanned layer in a lesser number of hours. This is then absorbed into the blood stream, causing a reaction that won’t turn out pleasant for mothers. Always going with the 8hr spray tanning / lotion, is a much safer bet.
Now that we are clear about the question of is spray tanning safe during pregnancy, it is safe to conclude that it is a better option than any other tanning method available out there. It should assure moms that using these during pregnancy is safe, although like I said earlier, waiting till after the first trimester to spray tanning or apply lotion to yourself would be advisable.
