Protecting your body from the heat and harmful radiation of the sun is important, regardless of age or gender. However, when pregnant, you need to take extra care, as you have the duty of protecting the health and safety of your unborn child.
Overheating
Overheating is one of the primary dangers to both you and your unborn child when outside sunbathing. The heat from the sun can cause your body temperature to rise quickly while pregnant, which can affect the temperature around your baby. While a moderate change in body temperature is not harmful to the fetus, overheating to the point of heat exhaustion or heat stroke can result in serious side effects to your unborn child, such as spinal malformations, says the American Pregnancy Association.
Skin Sensitivity
Pregnancy causes many changes to your skin, from an increase in stretch marks and acne to melasma and spider veins. Another side effect is an increase in sensitivity to the sun. Your skin can burn much faster while pregnant. Exposure to the heat of the sun also can increase itchy skin associated with pregnancy as well as irritate pregnancy-related rashes, according to experts at the March of Dimes Foundation.
General Sun Dangers
Pregnant women are prone to the same dangers as everyone else regarding unprotected over-exposure to the sun's UV rays. The UV radiation from sunlight can damage the DNA of your skin cells, as well as burn and damage the skin. When DNA is affected, the skin cells can mutate into deadly skin cancer, such as malignant melanoma. Sun damage to your skin can accelerate the aging process through a process called photo-aging. This can increase wrinkles and lead to age spots well before your body would have created these skin blemishes from the natural aging process.
Steps to Take
You can still sunbathe as long as you take the right precautions. For example, always wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor, or SPF, of 30 or greater, suggests the American Academy of Dermatology. Keep a bottle or glass of cold water with you at all times when sunbathing. Sip the water every few minutes to help keep your body hydrated and your body temperature down, preventing overheating. An umbrella or other sun cover can provide shade and protect your body from overheating or burning.
