Sunscreen During Pregnancy
Sunscreen during pregnancy is important, with pregnancy hormones leaving the skin more sensitive to sunlight than usual.
But you may be concerned about the chemicals in your sunscreen and whether or not they are safe for use during pregnancy.
You can, of course, opt to avoid the use of sunscreen altogether, but this means sticking to the shade and wearing a hat and protective clothing - not always practical and very restrictive whilst on your babymoon, particularly at a warm and sunny destination!
So here are some tips for choosing and using the safest sunscreen during pregnancy...
- Choose a brand with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or more
- Look for a brand offering protection against both UVA and UVB rays.
- Try to avoid the sun between 10 am to 2 pm, when the sun's rays are at their strongest.
- Make sure your sunscreen is water resistant if you plan to go swimming.
- Always reapply sunscreen AT LEAST every 2 hours, especially if you go swimming or are sweating.
- Avoid sunscreens containing bug repellent. Whilst frequent reapplication of sunscreen is a GOOD thing, frequent application of bug repellent is NOT!
The Two Safest Sunscreens During Pregnancy
According to a recommendation by ConsumerReports.org, an expert, independent nonprofit organization working for consumer safety, the best sunscreens during pregnancy are Coppertone Lotion and Equate Sunscreen
.
The 3 reasons these sunscreens are recommended are that...
- They are lotions - they can't be inhaled in the way sprays can. The effect of inhaling sprays is not yet known.
- They do not contain retinol or retinyl palmitate. Studies have shown that these ingredients may be associated with birth defects, and whilst this may be a contentious issue, the safest option is probably to avoid them altogether!
- They do not contain the nanoparticles associated with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. Although many pregnancy websites actually advise using titanium dioxide and zinc oxide sunscreens because they are not absorbed into the skin, there is research to show that these ingredients have reproductive and developmental effects in animals. Friends of the Earth has actually published an article highlighting its concerns about nanoparticles, including doubts as to whether titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are actually absorbed through the skin or not.
The recommended sunscreens are available at stores or online from Amazon...
The tips provided here are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice.
Always talk with your doctor about any concerns you have during pregnancy.
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