- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
3rd Trimester
SeaStar430
member
Are tanning beds ok?
SeaStar430
member
No, not because I want to look hot this winter. 
I'm desperately trying anything to cure my PUPPPS without having to take the oral steroid. I just started taking dandelion root and milk thistle which helps a lot of people. The other thing that my dermatologist said to ask my OB about was using a tanning bed. She has a light bed in her office for patients who need UVB light in their skin, because I guess Vitamin D and UVB light heal a lot of skin conditions. Like if you tanned when you were a teenager and cleared up your acne.
I asked my OB and they would only tell me to take the steroid. They are pretty hardcore about me taking the steroid. Through all of my research I'm REALLY nervous about the side effects for me and my baby, and would rather do something natural if at all possible.
Lots of people use the tanning beds for PUPPPS and say it works great to keep their itching and rash at bay, they don't do it to tan, just for about 5 minutes 2-3 times a week. But I'm still paranoid about hurting my baby. Did anyone ever specifically ask their doctors about tanning during pregnancy?
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Are tanning beds ok?
Tanning beds are absolutely NOT ok. I ran 2 tanning salons and if you walk into one and read any of their info it flat out says no for pregnany women.
Call your OB and talk to her about other options or tough it out.
lol "tough it out" and "deal with the rash"---obviously said by people who do not have PUPPPS.
Not really optional. If I decided to "tough it out" they'd have to commit me somewhere, which is why most people who have severe PUPPPS are induced early.
I have considered acupuncture, I've read that that can help a lot too. Again, worried about the effects when pregnant, my doctor won't tell me anything except "take the steroid and we'll induce at 39 weeks."
I've never been to a tanning bed, so I didn't think to ask in my first trimester. Obviously I'm not looking to get a bikini bod, I'm trying to do the best thing for my baby. Prednisone is not exactly a walk in the park for either of us.
To agree with the pp, light therapy was recommended by my doctor (not my ob, my dermatologist). Since my husband had malignant skin cancer and I'm as white as a ghost, I am very anti-sun in general. But light therapy is supposed to be a big help to people with certain skin conditions, and in this case, I'm one of those people.
I think some of these responses are a bit ridiculous. The OP didn't ask if it was ok to go to some run-of-the-mill tanning salon so that she can look fabulous this winter. She asked if light therapy at a dermatologists office to help with her PUPPPS was a viable option for her. Get over yourselves
To answer your question, I would only be okay with it if your OB is. Depending on the extent of your PUPPPS, if you feel that you may be able to wait it out a few more weeks until the baby is born with moderate discomfort, I would personally forgo the light therapy. If you don't think you can go a few more weeks, it's up to you to make the call. Has your dermatologist ever done this with other pregnant women suffering from PUPPPS? Did he/she have any concerns for the baby? I would assume that in your case, as long as you don't allow yourself to become overheated that all would be fine.
LOL this is such a first tri answer!
Since you said that you are "white as a ghost" lol...if you decide to do it...call around and find a salon that has a "high-pressure" bed. I would also recommend going in to make sure it's a full high pressure bed. The lights should be smaller and purple colored...not white and long like the other beds. The high pressure beds filter out over 90% of the burning rays and even people who usually burn can usually spend almost the max time in a high pressure bed without burning.
I actualy DO have PUPPS and it came on during week 20 so I've been toughing it out a lot longer than most women ever have to. If your doc is recommending it, I would try to find a doc who can do light therapy for a number of safety reasons. As bulbs get older in tanning beds, the strength changes in them-you have no way to gauge how strong it is.
You have to keep in mind also, that 15 minutes in a tanning bed is like hours in the sun.
I would go with Prednisone over tanning hands down, but its ultimately up to you and your OB.
I would check with your OB about the dermatologist's recommendation for light therapy (at the MD's office). My dad is SUPER anti-sun (he's an MD with Irish skin and a few people in the family have had skin cancer) and he does light therapy at the derm's office regularly for his psoriasis. It has helped him tremendously- you can hardly tell he has it anymore. Your treatment would also be temporary- you wouldn't be doing it for the next 10 years. I think the time you go in (my dad goes for like 2-3 minutes) is so limited, I would think it's pretty safe. It sounds like you're in a tough spot- if my OB ok'd it and my derm recommended it, I would give it a try.
Good luck!!!
::turns my office light off so my baby will stop cooking::
Wow some tards need to READ the post before they respond with vadge-tastic comments.
I have something to add besides a tanning bed; some of the more upscale spas in my area offer light therapy beds which are similar to tanning beds but offer a larger range on the visible/non visible light scale. I would talk to your derm about possibly looking into trying a few sessions in these beds.
EDIT: WOW i obviously need to take my own advice since the poster directly above me just recommended light therapy!