The Effects of Tanning Beds on Pregnancy

Hyperthermia

• One of the most potent risks a mother takes when she uses a tanning bed is hyperthermia, also known as sunstroke or heat stroke. This happens when your core body temperature rises above 102 degrees F for an extended period of time and is usually caused by over-exposure to sunlight. Staying too long in a hot tub or sauna can produce the same effect, as well as tanning for too long in a tanning bed. Overheating of the mother's body can potentially cause developmental problems in her child, especially during the first 3 months. The greatest danger is an increased risk of abortion, although this possibility is slight. Other risks include birth defects such as a neural tube defect, also known as spina bifida.

Skin Sensitivity

• Some pregnant women report having more sensitive skin during pregnancy and ultraviolet rays are known to aggravate skin conditions. Sensitive skin is also more likely to burn from overexposure to UVA and UVB rays. Sunburns are dangerous in and of themselves--with the effects ranging from mild to extreme. Mild effects include wrinkles, sun spots, premature aging, dehydration and the aggravation of certain skin disorders, such as rosacea. Extreme effects range from 2nd-degree burns to skin cancer and even, in some cases, death.

Chloasma

• Chloasma is a skin condition some pregnant women experience that causes patches of dark skin to form around the forehead, cheeks, neck and upper lip. Doctors surmise that this change in pigmentation is due to the increase in hormones during pregnancy, but the real cause is unknown. What doctors do know is that tanning increases the risk of developing chloasma, or intensifies the condition if it is already present.

folic acid deficiency

• Folic acid, or Vitamin B9, is an essential vitamin for pregnant women because it protects the fetus against numerous malformations and birth defects resulting from folate deficiency. Most notable among them are malformations of the skull, brain and spine, which are most likely to occur within the first month of conception. UVA and UVB rays have been found to break down folic acid in women who have a light-skinned complexion. So it is especially important for light-skinned women who are pregnant to take a folic acid supplement or to eat more foods that are rich in Vitamin B9, such as sunflower seeds and raw vegetables.

Warning

• As an expectant mother, thoughts of protecting your child should naturally come to the forefront. However, as a responsible parent, you should also take your own health into consideration. The fact is that tanning beds contain sun lamps that emit mostly UVA light, which means that while you are less likely to get a sunburn, you are more likely to sustain skin damage. UVA and UVB rays are linked to wrinkles, premature aging, melanoma and other types of skin cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, women who are 35 and younger and use tanning beds on a regular basis have an 8 times higher chance of getting melanoma than women who have never used them. Even occasional use, they find, nearly triples a woman's risk of developing melanoma.