Tanning is never recommend, and this also includes during pregnancy. This is because exposure to UV rays, whether from the sun or a tanning booth, can increase the chance of skin cancer and premature skin aging.

While UV rays don’t penetrate the uterus during pregnancy, there is concern that overheating (which can occur while tanning) can contribute to hyperthermia in the baby, which can lead to potential neural tube defects.

Additionally, it should be noted that there’s a greater risk of hyperpigmentation in pregnancy in the form of melasma, also known as chloasma, and tanning can worsen this pigmentation.