It is possible for a pregnant woman to expose herself to the sun, however taking precautions. Exposure to the sun can be beneficial for the production of vitamin D, but also for the cardiovascular system and immunity, and it does not represent, moreover, a direct risk for the fetus, which is in particular protected by the liquid amniotic. But he could suffer from possible heat stroke and dehydration from his mother. It is therefore essential to avoid the risks associated with the sun, in particular by applying sunscreen with a high index, and also by avoiding exposure at certain times of the day. The sun can accentuate the mask of pregnancy, which appears in some women during this time of life. In addition, it should be kept in mind that there are also risks in exposing yourself too much to ultraviolet rays, during pregnancy as at any other time of life. Indeed, in the long term, in pregnant women as in others, the main risk remains that of catching skin cancer. 

Good news for future mothers wishing to sunbathe: it can have benefits on pregnancy. Thus, the production of vitamin D is correlated with ultraviolet radiation and therefore associated with the outcome of pregnancy. In addition to promoting the production of vitamin D, UV rays also have positive effects on cardiovascular health as well as immunity.

Vitamin D indeed needs sunlight to be secreted. However, it is an essential vitamin for the proper functioning of the body. Its main function is to increase the concentrations of calcium and phosphorus in the blood. And maintaining this level of calcium in the blood ensures optimal mineralization of tissues, such as bones, cartilage and even teeth. This is why it appears that exposure to the sun during pregnancy plays a positive role through the synthesis of vitamin D.

Moreover, according to several scientific studies, high doses of UV during the first trimester of pregnancy are associated with increased fetal growth, and they also have beneficial effects on hypertension. However, these studies have limitations in terms of methodological approaches, these conclusions will therefore need to be supported by more data provided by further epidemiological studies.

Exposure to the sun, in pregnant women, can trigger or even worsen the mask of pregnancy, also called chloasma. This pregnancy mask, which occurs in France in about 5% of pregnant women, is caused by an excessive production of melanin. This hyperpigmentation of the skin by small brown spots mainly concerns the face.

Commonly, these small brown spots are localized on the forehead, cheekbones and upper lip. They can, moreover, also affect the belly, appearing then in the form of a brown line, but also appear on the nipples, the armpits and the scars. So be sure to only expose yourself to the sun moderately, in order to prevent the pregnancy mask from appearing or developing further.

It is possible to tan during pregnancy, but you have to be really careful not to get hot.

To do this, a few precautions should therefore be taken when exposing yourself to the sun during this period:

• You should always avoid exposure to the most critical hours, between 12 noon and 16 pm;
• It is always necessary to use a sunscreen, having a high protection index;
• Remember to drink regularly, preferably water, in an amount of at least 1,5 liters per day;
• Sunglasses should be worn to protect the eyes, as well as a large sun hat.

Exposure to UV is dangerous, during pregnancy as in other moments of life, when the woman is not pregnant, or even more particularly during childhood. Indeed, whether their origin is natural or even artificial, UV radiation that we receive during exposure to the sun is dangerous, and this is the reason why we must always take care to protect ourselves by means of a effective sunscreen. 

The main risks of spending too many hours in the sun, especially without protection, are as follows:

• Sunburns ;
• Heat stroke which can go as far as discomfort;
• Accelerated aging of the skin;
• More serious: in the long term, too much exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer, whether it is melanoma or skin carcinoma;
• In addition, UV rays also present risks for the eye, and in particular macular degeneration or even premature cataracts.