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The spray tans available at retail stores for home use have been ruled completely safe for pregnancy. The chemicals in the spray are not known to cause harm to a growing fetus. To be on the safe side, never use a home spray tan during the first trimester. During those first weeks, the baby's vital organs are developing and it is best to avoid anything that might interfere, even if it is considered safe.
When using a spray tan at home, do it in a well-ventilated area. If you can, spray yourself outside. This will ensure that you are not breathing in the fumes from the spray tan. Ask a friend to help you get the areas you can't reach, so that you do not wind up with stripes and spots of unsprayed skin. -
Spray tan booths, often referred to by names such as Mystic Tan booths, are popular. You step into the booth, it sprays you down from head to toe, and you are instantly tanned and glowing.
The problem is that these booths do not have good ventilation. You will be forced to breathe in some of the tanning spray chemicals, specifically a chemical called dihydroxyacetone or DHA, before the process is over. DHA is the chemical that turns your skin a nice brown color, and it is considered safe to use externally but the effects of inhaling or ingesting the chemical are not known. The safest thing is to avoid spray tanning booths while pregnant, just in case the chemicals could harm the fetus. -
An alternative to home sprays and booths is being sprayed by a professional spray tan artist. This is a safer option for pregnancy than the spray booths. Because a person is spraying you rather than a machine, you can stop and take breaths of fresh air as needed. You can also ask that they go lighter on your face or even just have spot tanning done. A professional spray tan artist can do just your legs, for example. This will give you some of the tan you want without too much exposure to the DHA and other chemicals in the spray.
The chemicals used when you are sprayed by a person are the same as those used by the booths. They have not been studied by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration in relation to safety during pregnancy, although no known side effects have been shown in non-pregnant women. Use good judgment when getting a spray tan this way. Do not go during the first trimester. If you feel sick from the fumes, ask to step outside for fresh air. Only go for special occasions; do not make a habit of being spray-tanned regularly during pregnancy. Even without known risks, it is better to be safe than sorry.
