Can I use a tanning bed while breastfeeding?

After the birth of a child, each newly minted mother certainly begins to worry about her appearance. The time of carrying the baby in the womb is left behind, and the young mother wants to regain its former beauty. The use of artificial tanning is a method in which a woman's skin becomes bronze and tanned. At the same time, a tan helps to hide some imperfections on the surface of the skin, for example, stretch marks after childbirth. However, the question arises about the benefits and dangers of such a procedure for the mother to breastfeed her baby. Can a visit to the solarium somehow affect the lactation of a woman, and is it useful to take sun baths for women in labor?

What you should know about tanning beds?

In the solarium, women get the bronze effect of the skin using an artificial tanning technique. Such procedures are quite popular among many women, especially with the onset of winter. During the procedure of artificial tanning in a solarium, the skin receives a portion of ultraviolet rays. These rays resemble natural sun baths. When artificial rays hit the surface of the skin, the epidermis produces a certain protective layer. It is called melanin. After the appearance of this layer, the surface of the skin becomes a bronze hue. The body becomes velvety with a pleasant tan. This procedure does not harm the health of the beautiful half of humanity.

In the method of artificial tanning, several types of radiation are known - type A and B. The second type of ultraviolet radiation is softer and contains only 1% of the rays. But the radiation of group A is considered to be the most severe for the skin. It transmits from 2.5 to 3% of sunlight.

Important! The solarium should always be visited under the supervision of a special tanning master.

However, how harmless is the artificial tan for a new mother while breastfeeding a baby? And how much time can be in the solarium, so as not to harm the health of mothers and children?

Combining Solarium and Breastfeeding

Currently, there is no consensus on the benefits and harms of artificial tanning during breastfeeding. Experts are still arguing about whether it is possible for women in labor to sunbathe in a tanning bed during the lactation period. Of course, there is no ban on going to the tanning bed while breastfeeding, but there are some rules that mothers need to follow.

Ultraviolet radiation in no case does not harm the health of the nursing mother, and does not harm the process of producing milk in the breast. This is proved in theory, however, before going to the solarium, mothers should remember that faulty equipment can lead to negative consequences for health.

It is known that ultraviolet lamps that are used in tanning salons, specialists must change every 1000 hours after their work. If you carry out the artificial tanning procedure in a faulty tanning bed, where the lamps are not replaced during the time, then the rays can harm the body of the mother and her baby. Therefore, before going to the solarium, you should make sure that the tanning machine is working properly and that it is properly maintained.

Note! During a stay inside the tanning bed, evaporation of liquid from the woman’s body is observed on the skin. This can badly affect maternal lactation if you do not replenish the balance of water in the body on time. When going to the solarium, you need to bring a bottle of still water with you. The liquid should be drunk immediately after the tanning procedure.

If moles are on the woman’s body, then artificial ultraviolet rays can cause these spots to grow in size. Also, due to ultraviolet radiation, new moles may appear on the skin. In addition, it is impossible to completely exclude the formation of age spots on the skin, which also can not very well affect the health of a woman. If such formations appear after visiting the solarium, women need to visit a specialist to conduct an examination.

About the benefits of artificial tanning

Does a visit to the tanning bed really have any positive effect for women who are breastfeeding their baby? Experts argue that some benefits from artificial tanning do exist.

1. During a visit to a tanning salon, a nursing woman receives the vitamin D necessary for her body. Thus, artificial radiation and the healthy vitamin of the sun allow the mother’s body to better absorb calcium. In addition, this vitamin is beneficial not only for the woman in labor, but also for her baby, along with the milk from the breast.
2. During the procedure of artificial tanning in the body of a woman, the production of endorphins or hormones of happiness occurs. This has a positive effect on the overall health of mothers and babies.
3. If a new mother wants to get an artificial tan in the solarium in winter and autumn, when there is very little sunlight on the street, then the baby will not feel the lack of vitamin D3, which is important for his body. And this, in turn, will avoid problems associated with a disease such as rickets in newborns.

About the rules and cautions

Having received a lot of information about visiting the tanning bed, my mother can breastfeed and draw conclusions about the benefits of artificial tanning. However, mothers should follow the precautionary rules so as not to harm themselves and the baby.

1. It is not allowed to visit the solarium and sunbathe there without underwear on the body. It is very important that the chest area and bikini area are covered with underwear. This is necessary because ultraviolet rays cannot cause skin diseases in these parts of the body. It is also necessary to cover the nipples on the breasts from radiation, so as not to harm your health. Ultraviolet rays can cause the risk of breast cancer.
2. Also, going to the solarium, you need to cover up the moles on the body. This is done with special stickers, which must be available in beauty salons. If such a service is not provided, then it is worthwhile to use improvised means in advance for sealing moles. If there are a lot of dark spots on the woman’s skin, then you should generally avoid the procedure of artificial tanning in the solarium.
3. It is important not to overdo it with a tan in the solarium, because this can harm the health of the nursing mother. Women during lactation are not allowed to sunbathe under ultraviolet rays for more than five minutes. Even if earlier the girl repeatedly performed such procedures in a beauty salon. When breastfeeding a baby, you should definitely monitor the duration of the tanning bed in the car.
4. In addition, before tanning in a solarium, women should use a special protective cream that can protect the skin from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation.

It will be useful to check how clean the solarium is before the procedure. The artificial tanning area should be cleaned after visiting other customers, and the equipment should be cleaned. This is an important rule of hygiene and safety for the health of a nursing mother. Indeed, an infection can accumulate in the tanning machine, which can get on the mother’s mammary glands and harm the health of the woman and the newborn. Therefore, if a nursing woman decides to go to the solarium, it is important to follow all the recommendations so as not to harm her baby.

On contraindications to visiting a solarium during lactation

In addition to the mandatory rules for visiting the solarium when breastfeeding, mothers need to know about some additional restrictions. These contraindications can be a good reason for refusing to visit the solarium while breastfeeding. Artificial tanning is harmful to women if:

1. If there is a health problem associated with proper thyroid slave.
2. If on the body of a woman there are many birthmarks and age spots.
3. With problems associated with gynecological diseases and diseases of the mammary glands.
4. If a disease of bronchial asthma is detected.
5. With disorders of the nervous system, kidney problems and tuberculosis.

If a woman was diagnosed with one of these diseases, then an artificial tanning procedure in a tanning bed is not allowed. Failure to comply with this rule may lead to an exacerbation of the state of health and the development of the disease.

Also, you can not take sunbathing in a solarium if a woman is taking hormonal drugs, pills for repeated pregnancy or medications that lower blood pressure. And before going to the solarium, a nursing mother should visit a doctor to get advice from a specialist on this matter.

It should be remembered that women can take a tan in a tanning bed during lactation, however it is important to adhere to recommendations so as not to harm the health of the child and mother.

Video: how to sunbathe in the solarium