# Self tanner use during pregnancy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 14, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341 "2005-04-14T20:07:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Shana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Shana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shana)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/1 "2005-04-14T20:07:39Z")
I’m the color of boiled poultry. Sad, but true. So in the warmer months I like to use a little self-tanning lotion so I’m relatively healthy looking without the sun damage. Any Doper moms use self tanner during their pregnancy? Did it result in a George Hamilton tinted baby? A flying purple people eater?? 😉 Maybe I’m an alarmist, but if hair dye can be potentially harmful to the fetus then maybe self tanner is a no-no as well? ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/2 "2005-04-14T20:12:03Z")
> [@Shana](#): > > I’m the color of boiled poultry. Sad, but true. So in the warmer months I like to use a little self-tanning lotion so I’m relatively healthy looking without the sun damage. Any Doper moms use self tanner during their pregnancy? Did it result in a George Hamilton tinted baby? A flying purple people eater?? 😉 > > Maybe I’m an alarmist, but if hair dye can be potentially harmful to the fetus then maybe self tanner is a no-no as well? FWIW, my OB says that self tanner is perfectly okay - it doesn’t penetrate beyond the superficial levels of skin. As well, he says there is absolutely no reason not to dye your hair during pregnancy. He said it’s alarmist, that modern dyes have never been shown or suspected of causing birth defects. Check with your doctor (some are more conservative than others). ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/3 "2005-04-14T23:34:24Z")
I’ve heard / read the same thing as **Cyros.** I found out I was pregnant 2 days before my last hair-colouring appointment and I looked it up on the 'net and my pregnancy books and asked my hairdresser - she said the hair dye is very different than it used to be and it’s not actually on your scalp anyway - which made sense to me. The one thing that surprised me though was the advice not to use depilatory creams like Neet/Nair etc - at least not in the bikini line area. I NEVER would’ve thought of that … ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2005, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/4 "2005-04-14T23:42:08Z")
> [@Stainz](#): > > The one thing that surprised me though was the advice not to use depilatory creams like Neet/Nair etc - at least not in the bikini line area. I NEVER would’ve thought of that … I have never heard this and now I’m scared as hell! ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/5 "2005-04-15T01:37:33Z")
A few weeks ago my wife decided she could use a little color after a long winter and put some tanning stuff on her legs. She did not wash her hands right away. A few hours later the palms of both of her hands were bright orange. It took a couple of days for it to fade away. I thought it was funny, she didn’t. ---
**Author:** ![ShadiRoxan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@ShadiRoxan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadiRoxan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/6 "2005-04-15T04:27:49Z")
The reason it’s advised not to dye your hair while pregnant is because the result might not be what you got before you were pregnant. Those hormones really mess with you. But on the bright side, they do help find some creative new snack ideas. Bananas sauteed in butter with cherry vanilla ice cream ended up being one of my favorite things. ---
**Author:** ![Shana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Shana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shana)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/7 "2005-04-15T07:07:35Z")
Thanks **Cyros** 🙂 Good to know I can have my fake tan sans guilt. I’m a bit freaked out about the depilatory cream thing though! ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/8 "2005-04-15T16:54:54Z")
Sorry ladies - I believe I read it in one of my books - MAYBE it was “The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy” … I can’t recall if she gave a specific reason - and I don’t have the book here. The ONLY place I use that stuff is my bikini area, because it gives me the best results, so I was pretty disappointed to read that I couldn’t use it anymore. I haven’t had a chance to look on the internet to see what the risks are, if any. I’m having my first check-up at the hospital next week - I’ll TRY to remember to ask the obstetrician. (Along with the 18000 other things I want to ask him!) If I find anything out, I will post it here. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/9 "2005-04-15T19:47:19Z")
> [@Stainz](#): > > Sorry ladies - I believe I read it in one of my books - MAYBE it was “The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy” … > > I can’t recall if she gave a specific reason - and I don’t have the book here. The ONLY place I use that stuff is my bikini area, because it gives me the best results, so I was pretty disappointed to read that I couldn’t use it anymore. > > I haven’t had a chance to look on the internet to see what the risks are, if any. > > I’m having my first check-up at the hospital next week - I’ll TRY to remember to ask the obstetrician. (Along with the 18000 other things I want to ask him!) If I find anything out, I will post it here. I have been using it all along. In the bikini area. CRAP. It wasn’t on my doctor’s list of forbidden things. All I could find on the internet was that you might be more sensitive and burn yourself. I don’t remember it in Girlfriend’s Guide (but my mind is like Swiss Cheese now). And another book I had recommended it: How To Have A Baby - And Still Live In The Real World.) I wish I had asked him specifically about it. CRAP. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/10 "2005-04-15T20:19:31Z")
**Cyros** , stop panicking. There’s \*no \*evidence and no warnings against using dipillatories during pregnancy, not even near the bikini line. _None_. Call your doctor if it makes you feel better, but this is pure urban legend. ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/11 "2005-04-15T20:26:58Z")
Wow … **Cyros** I’m sorry … I truly didn’t think anyone would go into full panic mode over it … it’s just something I read that I wanted to pass on. PLEASE call your doctor so he/she can reassure you … Sh\*t. S. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/12 "2005-04-15T20:40:40Z")
Thanks **WhyNot**. Phew. Don’t worry about it **Stainz** : You didn’t cause me to panic. _I_ did. I’ve been having a horrendous day and no doubt I was going to upset myself somehow. I’m not enjoying this hormonal roller-coaster and I’m not handling it particularly well. I wish I could go into hibernation until this baby was born. ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/13 "2005-04-15T20:45:12Z")
Still I’m sorry - I really shouldn’t have brought it up without a cite or something. But it does make me feel better that no-one else has heard this, so maybe I can tame that bush down there! 🙂 (Sorry, TMI I’m sure). And apologies to **Shana** for inadvertently hijacking your thread. I think the best thing for ALL of us pregnant ladies to do is get used to calling our doctors and asking them these questions. Cyros, I’m in my 9th week only and in an absolute panic about SO many things it’s ridiculous. I know the best thing I can do for my baby is to relax but holy crap it’s tough! ---
**Author:** ![alice\_in\_wonderland](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alice_in_wonderland/32/176_2.png) [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2005, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/14 "2005-04-15T21:24:48Z")
I believe that depilatories are not recommended in the bikini area during pregnancy, for the same reason they’re not recommended during your period (or just before) - your “areas” tend to be more sensitive, and it can burn them. Having experienced a depilatory induced chemical burn on my “areas”, I can attest that it is, indeed, sucky. But if you’ve been using them all along with no problem, there’s probably no reason to stop. ---
**Author:** ![Stillwell\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/96bed5/32.png) [@Stillwell\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stillwell_Angel)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/15 "2005-04-16T00:53:10Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > She did not wash her hands right away. A few hours later the palms of both of her hands were bright orange. It took a couple of days for it to fade away. I thought it was funny, she didn’t. Which is exactly why I keep a box of latex gloves in my bathroom. No matter how well I washed my bare hands that stuff always stained them. Gloves are my friend 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/16 "2005-04-16T02:26:37Z")
CAN one use Nair and such in the bikini area-or is there a special kind of Nair? The bottles always said not for use near genitals, or whatever. ---
**Author:** ![Cyros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a698b9/32.png) [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/17 "2005-04-16T03:06:07Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > CAN one use Nair and such in the bikini area-or is there a special kind of Nair? The bottles always said not for use near genitals, or whatever. I use Nair Bikini Hair Remover. Incidentally, it still says “Not for use in vaginal / genital areas” in the small print, just like the regular stuff, but I have not experienced any obvious ill effects. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/18 "2005-04-16T03:37:54Z")
> [@Cyros](#): > > I use Nair Bikini Hair Remover. Incidentally, it still says “Not for use in vaginal / genital areas” in the small print, just like the regular stuff, but I have not experienced any obvious ill effects. Yep. Still not for use on mucus membranes - like inside the labia majora (big outer lips) or around the vagina itself (not that I’ve ever seen any hair there specifically. Use of either kind further out next to your leg should be fine as long as you control where it goes and you’re looking to “trim,” not “go bare down there.” The skin that’s basically like your leg skin is fine, the pink skin that’s wet on it’s own is probably too sensitive and could sustain a nasty burn. If the skin on the inside of your elbow can take it, the skin between your leg and the outside of the lips can probably take it. (Always patch test first, do not use if allergic, blah, blah, blah.) ---
**Author:** ![Shana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3bc359/32.png) [@Shana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shana)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/19 "2005-04-16T06:01:45Z")
No problem **Stainz**! I’m glad you brought it up. So this incessant worrying is due to the hormones, huh? Gosh, I thought I was going mad…but then, there are sooo many things one could worry and obsess over. Should I have had that Splenda? Did I stand too close to the microwave? Should I use my cell phone less? Did I squish the baby when I slept on my stomach?? (I try to sleep on my side, but I keep ending up on my stomach in the morning) and on and on and on… :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2005, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341/20 "2005-04-16T12:32:58Z")
> [@Shana](#): > > So this incessant worrying is due to the hormones, huh? I think it’s about one part hormones, two parts not being around a lot of pregnancies and three parts media and internet scares. In “the good old days,” each of us would have witnessed at least a dozen pregnancies and at least three or four deliveries before we ourselves had to go through it - our mothers, our aunts, our friends. Now, all most of us see are the occasional woman in the park and a gorgeous, well-rested, never sick model on TV. We’re discouraged from talking about the details with one another (“TMI!”), and so we don’t really have a good grasp of what’s normal and what isn’t. Therefore, we panic and assume that we’re uniquely damaging our babies in strange and unusual ways. Then there’s the information in baby magazines, designed to scare us into buying expensive “safety” products and also into buying the next magazine for more “tips and tricks” because they’ve convinced is we’re incompetent. Top it off with the internet, which is a wonderful source of mis-information. It’s also been my experience that there’s a lot of ass-coving on the internet, so people seldom come out and say, “STOP THAT! Dipillatories are fine!”, instead they hesitantly say, “Well, um, I used them and it was ok, but you should probably check with your doctor, or at least I should tell you to check with your doctor so you don’t sue me if your baby has an unrelated condition that you decide to blame on my giving you advice.” Not exactly confidence inspiring. > [@](#): > > Gosh, I thought I was going mad…but then, there are sooo many things one could worry and obsess over. Yes, there are. Including the fact that you’re obsessing too much! 😃 Just try to be as zen as possible and trust your body and your instincts. It’s best to do all that you can to **eat healthy, sleep well, don’t smoke**. Those three things will go a very long way into giving you a “free pass” should you \*occasionally \*use or do something questionable. A well nourished, well-rested fetus with good oxygen levels is a strong baby in the making. > [@](#): > > Should I have had that Splenda? My personal opinion? I don’t like it for large quantity consumption. There are a few hazy studies that can’t quite acount for where all that chloride goes - but it’s far from gravely dangerous. Given that you’re allowed about 600 extra calories a day now, I’d break out the sugar dish - in moderation, of course. But I’d also not worry about the occasional pre-made snack that contains sucralose. > [@](#): > > Did I stand too close to the microwave? Doubtful, unless you were actually inside it. They’re shielded pretty tightly these days, and most scaremongering you see about microwaves is either unscientific or based on really old microwaves. > [@](#): > > Should I use my cell phone less? Even the most scary of the scaremongering about cell phone use is warning of brain cancer right near where the phone sits. Unless you’re holding the phone to your belly for extended periods of time, this is SO not a worry. > [@](#): > > Did I squish the baby when I slept on my stomach?? (I try to sleep on my side, but I keep ending up on my stomach in the morning) You’re not going to squish the baby. Really. Trust me on this one. There’s so many layers of big strong muscles holding the uterus open and liquid acting as a shock absorber - the baby has floating room for months. When you get bigger and it becomes an issue (we’re talking later third trimester, here), you’ll simply not be comfortable on your stomach, and you’ll stop sleeping on it. It’s great design, actually. > [@](#): > > and on and on and on… :rolleyes: 😃 What else ya got? Come on, bring 'em on. No worry TMI! Let’s bust some pregnancy worries together! 😃 [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/self-tanner-use-during-pregnancy/299341.md?page=2)