Sunless tanners, also called self-tanners, darken the skin by interacting with amino acids on the surface of the skin. The only color additive approved by the Food and Drug Administration for this purpose is dihydroxyacetone (DHA).
There's little research on the direct effects of sunless tanners on pregnant women. Many creams and lotions are absorbed through the skin and may even cross the placenta to the fetus. It's not clear how much of the DHA in sunless tanners may actually get to the fetus.
To be safe, many doctors recommend that you avoid using sunless tanning products in pregnancy.
