June 13, 2009

Like everyone, pregnant women should be careful about sun exposure. It’s not that pregnant women are more sensitive to the sun; women taking birth control pills are equally sensitive. The real issue is that skin cancer is a risk for everyone.

Sometimes pregnant women have questions about the safety of sunscreens or self-tanning products and the impact chemicals being absorbed through the skin. There is no data that shows they are not safe, but the fact is there is not much data available. What we do know is that exposure to the sun puts everyone at risk for skin cancer, the most common cancer in the world.

I recommend that everyone get in the habit of putting sunscreen on your face daily, and using it more frequently on any exposed skin when you plan to be outside. Your children will pick up your habits. What a great lesson to give to your children.

Sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours when you’re outdoors in order to be effective. Regarding self-tanning lotions, we really don’t know much about their effect. Why take any unnecessary risk?

An alternative to using chemical-based suntan lotions is to block the sun. Creams like zinc oxide block sun’s rays but don’t introduce chemicals your body may absorb. Clothes and hats are also effective in blocking the sun. The company RIT has a product that can be washed into your clothes to increase their blockage of sunrays. Surf shops also sell clothes that block the sun and are great to wear over swimsuits when you’re in the water. They are cool enough that children like them, too.

Because you’re pregnant, you may be more health conscious. This would be a great time to develop the lifelong habit of protecting yourself from the risk of skin cancer. Your healthy glow should come from pregnancy, not sunburn.