It's February. Unless you're lucky enough to live in Maui or an equally sunny place, most of us can't get a tan right now unless it's a Mystic Tan. But is this safe when you're preggers?

We called OB/GYN Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz to find out.

"There is no safety data on Mystic Tanning in pregnancy and I tell my patients to avoid chemical tanning at the very least in the first trimester, when the majority of fetal organ formation occurs," she says. "But don't forget that fetal neurologic and brain development continues throughout pregnancy (and beyond)!"

She continues: "My general philosophical perspective on matters such as these is to consider what is called the precautionary principal -- i.e., why wait 'til we KNOW a substance causes harm before discontinuing its use? (Phthalates in plastic are a good case in point here.)"

The skin is the largest absorptive surface on your body, according to Dr. Gilberg-Lenz. "Pregnancy is a great time to consider what we put on (and in) our bodies," she says. "We are exposed to so many toxins in the environment that we have no control over, maybe we should avoid the ones we can."

Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz completed her undergraduate education at Wesleyan University and post-baccalaureate pre-med studies at Mills College. She earned her medical degree from the USC School of Medicine and has been in private practice for 8 1/2 years. She lives in Los Angeles and is mother of two.