#SafeForPregnancy Skin Care Tips

Photo courtesy of flickr user Schwangerschaft 

Doctors will always tell you what to eat and how to exercise during pregnancy, but they don’t always provide you with information about the outside of your body. We all know what’s on the inside matters, but it’s always nice to look just as good on the outside. Unfortunately, when you become pregnant, there are a few changes you may have to make to keep your baby safe.

Getting a Glow

Many women have fond summer memories of laying out with their girlfriends at the pool or beach. It’s natural to be proud of your baby bump and for you to have a desire to show it off. But is it safe?

The reality is that laying out or getting a tan is never safe. It always puts you at risk for skin cancer. But when you are pregnant, your body is more likely to being burned, which could lead to hives, heat rash or melasma, which causes dark spots to appear on your face. And that’s an on top of the skin cancer risk.

Does this mean you should never go outside during your pregnancy? No! Enjoying the sunshine is still possible, but it is important that you take care of yourself and your baby first. Since pregnancy makes it easier for your body to dehydrate, it is imperative to bring more than enough water with you. It is also a good idea to set up an umbrella, sit in a cool, shaded area and wear sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30. But if you still want a light tan to amplify your pregnancy glow, a sunless tanning lotion is a safe alternative.

Spray tanning is also a safe option because these products simply stain the skin and do not absorb into the bloodstream. Sunless tanners use DHA (dihydroxyacetone) as the active ingredient, which is safe for the skin whether you’re pregnant or not. But, doctors will tell you that you must use protection for your nose, eyes, ears and mouth when getting a spray tan, and they suggest that you wait until after your first trimester.      

Zap the Zits

When you are pregnant, your body is making extra hormones that can take you back in time to your acne-prone teenage years. The primary breakout areas are surrounding the mouth and the chin.

You may hear about oral medication that can aid in preventing or treating the breakouts, but this medicine can be dangerous for the baby. Instead of oral medication, use face soaps that are meant for a person with oily skin. Products that include either erythromycin or azelaic acid can prove to be very effective against the pesky acne and safe for your baby. You can also try Visha Skin Care’s Mommy Brightener, a new product developed by our own Dr. Purvisha Patel that is safe for treating acne and melasma during pregnancy.

Pamper Yourself Carefully

When you are pregnant, there are sure to be some days when you would love to relax and use common aromatherapy oils. But make sure you know what you’re using.  Some of these oils can be harmful to you and your baby during this time. Here are the main oils that you will want to stay away from:

• Nutmeg - can cause hallucinations
• Rosemary - can cause your blood pressure to rise
• Basil - may contribute to abnormal cell growth
• Jasmine and clary sage - known to trigger early contractions
• Sage and rose - can cause bleeding in the uterus 
• Juniper berry - may affect the kidneys

While it’s important to avoid the above ingredients, there is a wide selection of safe oils available to pregnant women, including lavender, citrus, spearmint and eucalyptus. It is good to remember not to mix oils and to use small dosages for short periods of time so you will not experience negative side effects.

You may also notice that the above are often found in foods, too. It is OK for you to eat foods that contain ingredients from the list of discouraged oils because the amount of these herbs in food is generally much lower and much less potent. 

What’s in the Milk?

While you are pregnant and when you are breastfeeding, you are sharing nutrients with your baby. Your body is also not as capable of fighting off infection, and your baby’s immune system is not completely developed, which means it’s important to avoid food-borne illnesses. Easy ways to prevent them are to cook all foods thoroughly and refrigerate them properly, as well as to make sure your hands and cookware are clean before making and serving food.

Seafood is a tricky food to eat during this time because there are many that are good food options as well as many potentially dangerous foods. Seafood provides a good source of omega-3 fats, and they are good for the development of an unborn baby or infant. When choosing seafood, make sure that you do not get one with a high level of mercury. Large fish like king mackerel, shark, swordfish and tilefish are very high in mercury and can cause damage to your child’s developing nervous system. Aside from seafood, it’s important to just have a healthy diet and include all the food groups when applicable. Check with your obstetrician for more information on a recommended diet during pregnancy.  

Have any more questions about your skin during pregnancy? Be sure to leave a comment and we will try to help you find the answers you need. 

The Truth About Tanning

Summer is quickly approaching, and odds are you’re breaking out your swimsuits and shorts for the first time. The first thing most people notice when they break out their summer clothes is that their skin is much lighter than it was when they packed those same clothes away months earlier.

Unfortunately, many people turn to tanning beds or even their own backyards to get a “base tan” before they officially kick off their summer activities. But is a base tan legitimate? And are you better off going to a tanning bed, laying outside, getting a spray tan or doing nothing at all? Here’s The Skinny on tanning.

Tanning Beds

No matter what you’ve heard, there is no such thing as a “safe” tanning bed. The World Health Organization and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services both list tanning beds as a “known human carcinogen,” right up there with cigarettes.  

According to the American Academy of Dermatology:

• On an average day in the United States, more than 1 million people tan in tanning salons.
• 35 percent of American adults, 59 percent of college students and 17 percent of teens have reported using a tanning bed in their lifetime.
• Nearly 70 percent of tanning salon patrons are Caucasian girls and women, primarily aged 16 to 29 years.
• Nearly 30 million people tan indoors in the United States annually. Of these, 2.3 million are teens.
• In a 2014 study, 13 percent of American adults, 43 percent of college students and 10 percent of teens admitted to using a tanning bed in the past year.
• In 2010, the indoor tanning industry’s revenue was estimated to be $2.6 billion.
• Indoor tanning equipment - which includes all artificial light sources, including beds, lamps, bulbs, booths, etc. -- emits UVA and UVB radiation. The amount of the radiation produced during indoor tanning is similar to the sun, and in some cases might be stronger.
• Studies have found a 59 percent increase in the risk of melanoma in those who have been exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning, and the risk increases with each use.
• A recent study estimates that exposure to indoor tanning devices causes more than 450,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer and 10,000 melanoma cases each year in the United States, Europe and Australia.
• Studies have demonstrated that exposure to UV radiation during indoor tanning damages the DNA in the skin cells. Excessive exposure to UV radiation during indoor tanning can lead to premature skin aging, immune suppression and eye damage, including cataracts and ocular melanoma.
• In a survey of adolescent tanning bed users, it was found that about 58 percent had burns due to frequent exposure to indoor tanning beds/lamps.
• The FDA estimates that there are about 3,000 hospital emergency room cases a year due to indoor tanning bed and lamp exposure.

But what about Vitamin D?

Some people claim that indoor tanning can be beneficial in providing much-needed Vitamin D to the skin. While Vitamin D is important, indoor tanning beds should not be used to obtain vitamin D because UV radiation from indoor tanning is a risk factor for skin cancer. Vitamin D can be obtained by a eating a healthy diet and by taking oral supplements. Additionally, most people can get adequate amounts of Vitamin D just by walking outside for a few minutes per day.

Aren’t there some safe tanning beds that don’t emit UVA rays?

While some tanning beds do eliminate the UVA rays and only emit UVB, they are still dangerous. According to the FDA, UVB rays are most often associated with sunburns on the skin’s surface, while UVA rays can cause damage further below the surface. But exposure to any UV rays can cause skin cancer and damage to the skin.

Tanning Outside

I’ve heard claims that tanning outside is safer than tanning inside because it’s “natural.” That’s false. The danger in tanning at all is the UV rays. Tanning beds tend to work “faster” than just laying outside because they have a higher concentration of UV rays, but any contact with UV rays is damaging.

Every time your skin changes – whether it burns or tans – it’s a sign of damage. Too much sun exposure can cause skin cancer, but it can also cause signs of aging, like wrinkles. If you’re outside for any extended period of time, you should wear sunscreen of at least SPF 30 to protect yourself.

Spray Tanning

If you really want to add some color to your skin, spray tanning is the way to go. Spray tans contain a color additive called dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which temporarily darkens the skin. Spray tans typically last seven to 10 days, or until the skin naturally sloughs off.

There has been a question about the safety of DHA, as prolonged exposure to the chemical or ingestion through the nose or mouth can be harmful. Still, if the products are used as directed, they are not dangerous. People working with spray tans or getting one should ensure they protect their eyes, nose, mouth and mucous membranes.

Even with the minimal risk posed by DHA, spray tanning is by far the safest option to achieve that brown glow.

Doing Nothing At All

Love your skin the way it is! People who avoid tanning altogether and who faithfully wear sunscreen every day will age more gracefully than people who tan or don’t protect their skin.

Have any questions about tanning or recognizing damage? Make an appointment at ADSCA today.