Taking care of yourself while out in the sun is important. But you need to be extra careful when you become pregnant. Sunburn during pregnancy can be a potential harm to you and your baby.
During pregnancy, your hormones are at an all-time high, making you more susceptible to severe sunburn than usual.
How? We have tried to cover all the information around the same in this blog.
So, continue reading!
Can Sunburn Affect Your Baby During Pregnancy?
As much as sunburn can potentially harm your skin, it can harm your baby. The sudden increase in the temperature can bring along a series of problems.
Firstly, it can result in intense dehydration that can further cause premature contractions. Also, an abnormal increase in body temperature can lead to birth defects in the baby.
Moreover, UV rays in the sunlight can deplete your folic acid reserves, which is a prerequisite for the baby’s healthy development. Remember how your doctor recommended folic acid when you planned to get pregnant? That was for a reason!
Last but not least, these sunburns can cause melasma, grey-brown patches on the skin. And can eventually lead to skin cancer.
So, yes, you need to be extra cautious while going out in the sun when you’re pregnant.
Is It Any Different Before Pregnancy?
Yes, totally. Pregnancy makes you more prone to sunburn than before. As stated above, it is all because of the hormones you experience during pregnancy.
Tips To Avoid Sunburn During Pregnancy
Now that we know how harmful sunburn can be for your baby and you, here are some tips to keep in mind while going out in the sun.
Wear a good sunscreen
Wearing good sunscreen during your pregnancy is extremely crucial. It is the easiest and almost the only way to protect yourself from a potential sunburn when you really have to go out.
Opt for a sunscreen with SPF30 or SPF50 as they block 97-98% of sun rays. Another thing to take care of is looking for the ingredients in these sunscreens. You would want to avoid the presence of “oxybenzone”.
Oxybenzone is one of the three ingredients present in a sunscreen that can cause you harm. Why? Because it absorbs into your skin and reaches your bloodstream, making you more vulnerable to heart diseases, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, etc. Plus, some studies even suggest its linkage to low birth weight babies.
Keep yourself hydrated
When you step out, carry along enough water with you. With your body being hydrated enough, chances of overheating are reduced. Plus, who doesn’t want that skin glow?
Just keep in mind that your body temperature is not increasing too much. As soon as you see that happening, switch your place to a shade and hydrate yourself enough. You can even go for fresh juices or coconut water.
Cover your bump cautiously
Make sure you cover your bump properly if you’re going for a beach party or just a sun-soaking session on a chilly day. Wear a one-piece suit or carry something along to cover your bump in the sun. Remember not to let any direct sunlight hit your bump.
Avoid going out during peak hours
The best way to avoid sunburn or harm is to avoid stepping out during peak sunlight hours. Usually, it’s from 10 AM to 2 PM when the sun’s rays are the strongest, so avoid going out in this particular time frame. But if you really have to, don’t forget to take proper precautions.
Conclusion
It’s always best to take precautions. As cautious as you have to be about everything during pregnancy, don’t forget to keep extra care when it comes to stepping out in the sun.
If you still face a situation of sunburn during pregnancy, do the following- take a cold bath, apply fresh aloe vera gel and drink plenty of water. And if it still doesn’t help, consult your doctor right away.
Related: Taking care of your mental health during pregnancy