Is It Risky To Sunbathe During Pregnancy?

Sun and health go hand in hand, so it may seem a little strange to ask if it is risky to take sun during pregnancy. The short answer is that  it can be if it becomes an activity that one does too much without understanding its limitations.

Ultraviolet rays with short wavelength (UVB) and long wavelength (UVA) have effects on the skin depending on their intensity and length.

In that sense, we know that under the action of UVB rays, the skin produces vitamin D3, which is essential for bone structure. However, only 20 to 30 minutes of exposure to the sun are needed to achieve these benefits.

Sunbathing requires more time and care. And it involves risks and requires maximum caution if done under the sun, so sunbathing in solariums is completely out of the question.

In this article we will explain the reasons for that.

Why do we take sun?

Sunbathing is a reaction in the skin to protect itself from the action of ultraviolet rays with short wavelength (UVB). The ozone layer stops this radiation, but  climate crises have affected it, and the presence of these rays on the earth’s surface has increased.

The skin catches them, and the natural reaction when they penetrate the epidermis is a darker color – a product of melanin. It is a biopolymer produced by melanocytes, which is present in the deepest layers of the epidermis (or stratum basale).

Melanin, which absorbs up to 99% of the sun’s rays, is stored in keratinocytes, which are the cells that make up the skin. This is where it accumulates around cell nuclei to protect DNA from possible mutations due to the effects of the sun’s rays.

Prolonged exposure to the sun means exceeding the natural barrier and going from an attractive color to a burn.

Is it risky to sunbathe during pregnancy?

In general, it is not recommended to take sun. The excitement of the summer, the feeling of freedom and the thought that a little more will not hurt, can have serious consequences. However, if you take all the reservations and are aware of the risks,  a little sun will be good for both you and your baby.

The sun helps to convert vitamin D, which contributes to the absorption of calcium, which helps to strengthen bones in both mother and baby, which get calcium through the placenta. The need for vitamin D increases by up to 300% during the mineralization of the bones of the fetus.

At the same time, exposure to the sun for a maximum of half an hour does not necessarily cause you to turn brown. It is healthy to get sun in the morning hours before eleven o’clock or in the afternoon after seventeen o’clock. 

But taking sun is a reaction to the sun’s rays, in addition to being a matter of aesthetics, and its intensity will depend more on the type of skin than on the amount of sun one gets.

If the skin is very light before taking sun, it will be burned. To protect yourself, you should therefore use a protection factor between 20 and 50. If your skin is a little darker, it will gradually become more brown, and the protection factor should be between 15 and 20.

Darker skin, on the other hand, turns brown faster. Very dark skin gets color in depth. In these cases, the solar factor should be between 10 and 15 or 4 and 10, respectively. In short , we should not expose ourselves to the sun’s rays without the appropriate protection.

Possible consequences if you choose to take sun during pregnancy

During pregnancy, the skin becomes more sensitive due to the increase in hormones and a greater blood supply. If exposure to UV rays is a concern, it is prudent to consider it risky to take sun during pregnancy.

Chloasma

It is also called melasma. These are dark spots caused by an increased production of progesterone. They are usually seen on the face (over the lip, cheekbones and forehead). The intensity will depend on the time in the sun.

Darker skin is more susceptible to its appearance. When it shows up, it is very difficult to make it disappear.

Melanoma

It is a type of skin cancer that develops when melanocytes grow out of control. Among the causes are genetic predisposition and exposure to the sun. It is more common on white skin, skin with many freckles and in redheads.

Spinal bifida

Exposure to ultraviolet rays causes overheating, which can affect the development of the baby’s spine. It also leads to a reduced amount of folic acid, which increases the risk of spina bifida.

The reason is that folic acid is sensitive to sunlight and degrades, especially during the action of the sun’s rays.

Tanorexia

For all of the above reasons, exposure to the sun without being careful and with an obsessive urge to tan can be a sign of tanorexia. An obsession with being brown can cause pregnant women to go to solariums with a higher concentration of rays, which are more aggressive than the natural ones.

We have already seen that the sun is healthy at the right times. But if we want to get color,  exposure to the sun is not the only solution.

Some special creams combine their active ingredients with keratin and other proteins in the superficial layer of the skin. They therefore produce a color without melanin, which can be adapted to one’s aesthetic wishes.

Tips to protect yourself from radiation during pregnancy

Within the guidelines dictated by common sense, such as applying sunscreen and choosing the right times,  the first day in the sun should not exceed 15 minutes.

If your summer vacation is long, you can increase it by ten minutes the following day. You can continue like this for up to ten days if necessary. It acts as a mechanism to prepare the skin to withstand the sun.

With this method of sunbathing, you will be protected from the immediate, but not from the long-term effects, such as skin cancer or premature aging. Sunbathing must not be a frequent occurrence.

In addition, it does not help to use parasols or sit in the shade, because sand and water act as mirrors that reflect the radiation. And the risk lies in being exposed while thinking one is protected. The combustion will occur later.

Yes, it is risky to take sun during pregnancy

If you can not avoid being in the sun after eleven o’clock, and you find it irresistible to lie in the sun or under an umbrella,  then it is risky to take sun during pregnancy.

In this case, sunscreen is vital. All exposed parts of the body must be properly protected.

It should  be applied in sufficient amounts 30 to 60 minutes before exposure. After bathing or sweating, you should apply sunscreen again.

It does not matter if the packaging says it is water-repellent. If more than three hours of sun exposure have passed, apply sunscreen again. No action is too exaggerated when it comes to protecting your skin and especially your baby’s development and health.