This is why pregnant women need to protect themselves from the sun
5/5/2023
Translation: Julia Graham
If you’re pregnant, it’s not enough to just put on sunscreen as you usually would. The reason being your skin becomes more sensitive to the sun, and you can get nasty sunburn even with sunscreen.
What do you think when you hear maternity leave? Putting your swollen feet up and sticking your rotund baby belly in the sun? As nice as that sounds, it can end in dangerous sunburn. That’s because your skin is particularly sensitive when you’re pregnant, which is why it needs to be protected from too much sun exposure.
Hormonal changes make the skin more sensitive to the sun
This is caused by hormonal changes that women go through during pregnancy. In an interview with «Baby and Family» (site in German), pharmacist Nicole Freiburg explains, «The high levels of oestrogen mean that pregnant women usually have more pigmentation, especially on their face, regardless of skin type.» What’s more, the skin becomes thinner when stretched, meaning it only has a third of its natural self-protection.
Wear at least factor 25
That’s why Nicole Freiburg, expert in pregnancy health, recommends high factor sunscreen (25 or more) for expectant mothers. As abdominal skin is often dry due to stretching, pharmacists recommend a rich cream, for example one containing calendula oil, which can simultaneously relieve any feeling of tension.
The ingredients in chemical filter sunscreens can enter the body through the skin and thus reach the unborn child. Researchers warn against using sun care products containing retinyl palmitate, for instance, as this substance has been linked to birth defects (site in German).
Mineral sunscreens are better during pregnancy
This is why pharmacist Nicole Freiburg recommends mineral sun care products. These stay on the skin and reflect sunrays. Another advantage is they provide immediate protection. As these products don’t absorb, they give pregnant women a helpful indication of how much they’ve applied. «The whitish layer of mineral cream gives you a good idea of how much skin is covered,» Nicole explains.
What’s more, she recommends pregnant women keep their baby bump permanently covered, if possible. And adds: «Choose dark colours rather than light ones for better sun protection.» As a general rule, she advises avoiding the midday heat between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
If you take the right sun care precautions during pregnancy, you can also avoid getting dark pigmented spots around the eyes and mouth. Nicole also recommends a sun hat to go hand in hand with sunscreen.
The pharmacist advises pregnant women err on the side of caution and only expect their sun cream to give half its normal factor protection. In other words, factor 25 normally lets you stay in the sun 25 times longer than your skin’s own natural protection (site in German). This means expectant mothers can only stay in the sun for 12 hours when wearing factor 25.
With plenty of sun protection, you can still enjoy the odd bit of sunbathing when pregnant and put your belly smothered in cream in the sun. After all, UV rays don’t do any harm to the baby. However, it will notice changes in lighting. Babies have been shown to respond to light stimulation (site in German). Which means you both get to enjoy the lovely warmth of the sun.
Header image: Cerrotalavan/Shutterstock
A true local journalist with a secret soft spot for German pop music. Mum of two boys, a dog and about 400 toy cars in all shapes and colours. I always enjoy travelling, reading and go to concerts, too.
