Comparison · Pregnancy Smart
Tanning bed alternatives during pregnancy
How do the options compare?
The lens is a clinician's: guideline endorsement, pregnancy evidence, dosing, onset, and tolerability. Cost and formulation notes appear where relevant.
| Option | Studied pregnancy dose | Guideline support | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wash-off bronzer or body makeup | Apply externally as directed and remove as the label instructs; patch-test if skin is sensitive. | FDA describes bronzers such as tinted moisturizers and powders as temporary, makeup-like color that washes off. | Choose a wash-off product confirmed free of DHA if the aim is to avoid that ingredient. Other cosmetic ingredients and allergies still require label review. It does not provide sunscreen unless labeled with SPF. |
| DHA lotion or foam | Use only on intact external skin and keep it away from eyes, lips, nose, and other mucous membranes. | FDA permits DHA for external application. Pregnancy-specific outcome evidence remains insufficient, so discuss use with the prenatal clinician. | A lotion or foam makes inhalation easier to avoid than a mist. Patch-test first and wash hands after application. |
| Spray tan booth | Not preferred; avoiding inhalation and all eye, lip, and mucosal exposure can be difficult in an all-over mist. | FDA has not approved DHA for these exposure routes because supporting safety data were not submitted. | A nose filter or closed eyes may not protect the entire eye area, lips, mucosa, or respiratory tract. Pregnancy studies are lacking. |
| Intentional outdoor tanning | Do not use a UV exposure target to obtain color. | CDC calls a UV-linked tan a sign of injury and advises shade, protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. | Pregnancy also increases heat and dehydration concerns. Normal outdoor life with sun protection is different from deliberate tanning. |
| Tanning bed or tanning pill | Avoid. | Indoor tanning exposes users to intense UV; FDA says tanning pills are unsafe and none are approved. | Controlled session length does not remove skin-cancer risk, and pills can cause serious liver, skin, and eye harms. |
- CDC advises avoiding indoor tanning because tanning beds expose users to intense ultraviolet radiation, a known cause of cancer. It states that any skin-color change after ultraviolet exposure is a sign of injury, so outdoor sun tanning is not a risk-free substitute. 1
- FDA permits dihydroxyacetone, or DHA, as a color additive for external application but not on lips, eyes, or mucous membranes. It says the data needed to approve inhaled, ingested, eye-area, or all-over mist exposure have not been submitted. 2
- FDA explains that DHA lotions and creams can be applied while avoiding inhalation and mucosal contact, whereas spray booths can expose eyes, lips, mucous membranes, or the respiratory tract. FDA also states that tanning pills are unsafe and none are approved. 3
- A 2026 systematic review included 16 human and animal studies of topical DHA. No included study demonstrated harm, but most were low quality and involved few humans or animals; concerns about absorption and free-radical formation remained, and the review did not establish pregnancy safety. 4
- CDC advises pregnant people to limit heat exposure, schedule outdoor activity for cooler times, and use broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher. These steps address heat and ultraviolet exposure but do not turn deliberate sun tanning into a safe color strategy. 5
Which option makes sense?
The comparison above is intentionally evidence-first, not brand-first. Please consult your healthcare provider to translate it into a plan that fits your pregnancy specifics.
Disclosure: Pregnancy Smart is a supplement maker. The options compared above sit outside our own product line; this page describes their pregnancy evidence on its own merits.
Frequently asked questions
Can you use a tanning bed while pregnant?
Avoid tanning beds. CDC states that indoor tanning exposes users to intense ultraviolet radiation, a known cause of cancer, and that a tan is a sign of skin injury. Pregnancy adds heat and dehydration concerns without making UV exposure beneficial.
Is self-tanner safe during pregnancy?
Pregnancy-specific outcome data are insufficient. FDA permits DHA for external skin application, and a 2026 review found no demonstrated harm in 16 mostly low-quality human and animal studies, but unresolved absorption and free-radical questions remain. Discuss a lotion or foam with the prenatal clinician.
Is self-tanner lotion better than spray tan during pregnancy?
A lotion or foam allows you to avoid inhalation and keep DHA away from eyes, lips, and mucous membranes more readily than an all-over spray. FDA permits external application but has not approved the mist-related exposure routes because supporting data were not submitted.
Is a spray tan booth safe while pregnant?
A spray booth carries unresolved inhalation and mucosal-exposure concerns. FDA says all-over DHA mist can reach the eyes, lips, mucous membranes, or internally, uses for which the needed safety data were not submitted. Pregnancy-specific studies are also lacking.
Can I sit in the sun to tan while pregnant?
Intentional sun tanning is not a safer color method. CDC states any UV-linked tan is a sign of injury. For routine outdoor time, use shade, protective clothing, sunglasses, and broad-spectrum SPF 30 or higher, and choose cooler hours to reduce heat stress.
Does self-tanner protect against sunburn?
Usually not. FDA says a sunless tanner or bronzer provides sun protection only if it separately contains sunscreen ingredients and carries an SPF label. Continue normal sun protection even when the skin appears darker.
What is the lowest-exposure way to add temporary color during pregnancy?
A wash-off bronzer or body makeup confirmed to contain no DHA adds temporary color without UV exposure or a self-tanning ingredient. Some cosmetics combine bronzer and DHA, so read the ingredient panel. Patch-test if skin is reactive, avoid broken skin and the eye area, and remember that cosmetic color does not replace sunscreen.
Are tanning pills a safe alternative during pregnancy?
No. FDA states that tanning pills are unsafe and none are approved. Products containing canthaxanthin can cause serious liver, skin, and retinal harms. Do not substitute an oral tanning product for a tanning bed.
When should I stop using a sunless tanning product?
Stop and seek advice for a significant rash, swelling, eye exposure, persistent coughing, breathing trouble, dizziness, or fainting. FDA has received reports of rashes and, particularly with spray booths, coughing, dizziness, and fainting, though the responsible cause was uncertain.
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References
CDC · https://www.cdc.gov/skin-cancer/prevention/index.html
FDA · https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetic-products/sunless-tanners-bronzers
FDA · https://www.fda.gov/radiation-emitting-products/tanning/tanning-products
PubMed · https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41757797/
Clinical Overview of Heat and Pregnancy
CDC · https://www.cdc.gov/heat-health/hcp/clinical-overview/heat-and-pregnant-women.html
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.