A tan is considered a healthy look for the general users of tanning beds. During pregnancy, do you prefer a pale look or a reddish bloom of your cheeks? Are you aware of the precautions of tanning needed to know when dealing with pregnancy?
If you still prefer the natural look of a tan and you are worried that this might affect your baby in the future, here are a list of facts for you to consider:

• Tanning beds, as well as the sun, gives out UV rays that could cause your skin to burn. Pregnant women are advised not to be open to the elements of the UV rays because of their sensitivity to the sun and hot temperature. Make sure that when you make use of tanning beds, always treat your session in moderation.
• A pregnant woman is recommended to maintain her body temperature that is not above 39°C. So if you are about to go into a salon for a tanning bed session, make sure to talk with the assistants about your required temperature and always limit your exposure to the lights for not more than ten minutes.
• Hypothermia, or the overheating of your body usually occurs during the first trimester of the pregnancy. This may result in your spinal deformity and the baby’s development. That is why tanning beds are more advisable to use after the trimester period.
• In using tanning beds, it is important for pregnant women to check that there is sufficient ventilation in the room. Without proper oxygen, you might feel suffocated. When this happens, do not refuse to give in to your body’s request. Go out of the room and breathe normally.
• Remember to bring along ample amount of liquid to prevent your body from dehydration. The pregnant woman usually needs sufficient water to provide the body with a cool temperature.
• In contradiction to the natural sunlight, the tanning beds reduces the possibility of overheating. During pregnancy, the same effect of the sunlight or the tanning beds, when not used in moderation, could cause an increase of skin aging.
• You should go to your physician when using lotions before entering tanning beds. Some women develop skin sensitivity when pregnant. Make sure that you have not developed allergies on the products before making use of them.
• During pregnancy, the women’s hormones such as the estrogen increases. The effect of the estrogen could be reflected into all the organs as well as the skin. When these hormones increase, the pregnant woman encounter a black line that is seen in her abdomen. These blackened lines does not disappear easily and the UV rays of the tanning beds would not cover them temporarily or permanently.
• Maintain your skin with moisturizers to avoid stretch marks and blacken spots that take effect during pregnancy.
• Although the UV rays from the tanning beds’ bulbs could be dangerous to the skin tissues when used addictively, the rays do not break through far into the body to endanger your developing baby.

If you still have second thoughts whether or not to enter into a tanning bed session, you could always wait until your pregnancy is over. By then, you could receive your required heat to obtain the perfect tan without worrying about your baby’s health.

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Copyright Nora P. Dyson, tanningbedsecrets.com