Sun care for soon to be mums
Sun Care
brochure (111KB PDF)
As part of our Sense in the Sun campaign we are sharing all our tips and tricks for
staying safe out and about during the hot summer days.
If you are pregnant it’s even more important
to be smart about your sun protection. Your skin is extra sensitive to the sun’s
harmful UV rays, especially in the early months of your pregnancy when your
immune system is in flux; and this may put you at a higher risk of developing
skin cancer.
During pregnancy your skin’s melanocytes
(pigment producing cells) have a heightened sensitivity, meaning that any time
in the sun without protection increases your chance of permanent discolouration
appearing, like freckles and melasma (brown patches, usually on the face). Some
women are lucky enough for these sudden dark spots to disappear after giving
birth, but others are stuck with them.
Using a broad-spectrum SPF 50 sunscreen is
the best thing you can do for your skin every day, even in winter. Most people
don’t wear sunscreen during the working week because they think that being at
work, possibly inside all day, they won’t be exposed to the sun, but what about
the walk to and from the car and out in the middle of the day to grab some
lunch… It’s better to be safe than sorry.
For Mums to be while carrying your little
bundle for nine months, it’s best to choose a product that uses reflective
agents. Try a product with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide in it. This will
ensure that the lotion/cream/gel/spray sits on top of your skin rather than being
absorbed into it. While you’re at it, check your sunscreen’s label ingredients
for oxybenzone and if the sunscreen contains this ingredient, don’t use it as
it may cause developmental issues in unborn babies.
If you’re feeling like you want a bronze glow
for an event, or just to feel summery, opt for an eco-friendly, natural self-tanner
or gradual tanning lotion. And, look on the bright side, summer is the perfect
time to wear all those seaside accessories you see in the catalogues like, big
straw hats, kaftans, sunglasses and full piece suits with fancy cut outs and
patterns.
You may also be interested in the following:
