The skin peel after sunburn can be really troubling for many people, especially when it’s a nasty or painful one. The itchiness, the pain, and the redness that come with sunburns are rather uncomfortable and painful.
The most common sign of damage from sun exposure is a burn. Sunburns are typically characterized by red skin that may be accompanied by swelling and pain. When you are first burned, your skin may have a dry or moist appearance, with dry skin being more common as the body begins to try to fight off infection. The skin may also peel if blistered areas break open, but this does not happen for everyone. Sunburns can be mildly uncomfortable for a few days, or very painful for about a week before fading away. In ths guide, we review the aspects of Bad Skin Peel After Sunburn, how to stop skin from peeling after sunburn, how to make sunburn peel faster, and how long does skin peel after sunburn.
However, if you have an underlying condition such as lupus or eczema, you may have sensitive skin that takes longer to heal from a simple sunburn due to your discomfort threshold being lower than normal. If this is the case, or if a blister or area of missing skin lasts longer than three weeks after receiving a burn, then you should see your doctor to ensure that everything is healing properly.
How To Treat Bad Skin Peel After Sunburn
Sunburns can cause redness, swelling, pain, and in more severe cases, peeling. Peeling skin is a sign that your body is healing itself, but it can be irritating, itchy, and unsightly while it’s happening.
If your skin starts flaking after a particularly bad sunburn, the one thing you absolutely should not do is pick, peel, or scratch the peeling skin.
“Do not pick peeling skin because it can make you more prone to infection,” says Shari Lipner, MD, PhD, a dermatology professor at Weill Cornell Medicine. This is because pulling or scratching off peeling skin can expose unhealed skin underneath, which will not have the proper barrier to fend off potentially harmful bacteria.
So while your skin is peeling, it’s best to allow your body to repair itself. Your skin will usually stop peeling on its own once the sunburn has healed, which takes about a week for mild to moderate burns.
Procedures in Treating Bad Skin Peel After Sunburn
Use a cold compress or take a cool shower
Applying a cold compress or taking a cool shower won’t necessarily stop the peeling. However, if your sunburn feels especially warm, swollen, and uncomfortable the cool temperatures may provide temporary relief.
It’s also important to avoid using loofahs and scrub brushes when showering, as these can pull on or irritate peeling skin, Lipner says.
You can make cold compress at home by adding ice cubes to a sturdy plastic bag. Never apply ice directly to sunburned skin because the severe cold could damage the skin farther and potentially worsen peeling and delay the healing process.
Apply aloe vera or a moisturizer
Using the right moisturizer may help speed up the healing process and reduce peeling.
Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital, recommends using a product containing aloe vera gel, as aloe can help hydrate your skin and has anti-inflammatory compounds that can reduce swelling and promote healing.
“It is rich in water and skin-soothing sugars that form a protective seal over the surface of the skin,” Zeichner says.
When choosing a moisturizer, make sure to avoid petroleum or oil-based creams, as these may trap the heat coming off of your skin and make your sunburn even more irritated.
how to stop skin from peeling after sunburn
When you’ve had too much sun, it can be tempting to just wait for the pain and redness to go away on their own. However, peeling skin can take weeks to heal and might even leave behind scars if you don’t take some precautions. Here’s how to prevent peeling by moisturizing your skin in the aftermath of sunburn:
Take painkillers.
Take painkillers.
Painkillers are a good way to deal with the pain and swelling that comes from a sunburn. You can take ibuprofen or paracetamol, but make sure to follow the directions on the packet carefully–don’t take too much of these drugs, as they can have side effects such as stomach ulcers and constipation. If you are allergic to either of these medications, ask your doctor if there is another type of painkiller that would be safe for you to use instead.
Pat yourself dry.
- Pat yourself dry. Don’t rub the skin. Rubbing can cause more damage to the skin, which will make peeling worse.
- Don’t use a hair dryer or fan on your sunburned skin, as these can further irritate it and increase peeling.
- Avoid applying ice packs or cold compresses for at least 24 hours after getting out of the sun (or even longer if you’re particularly sensitive).
Apply aloe vera gel or a moisturizer with aloe vera.
Aloe vera is a natural anti-inflammatory and can help reduce the pain of sunburn. Apply aloe vera gel or a moisturizer with aloe vera frequently to help your skin heal faster.
Use an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream.
If you’ve got a sunburn and it’s itching, burning, or just plain uncomfortable, use an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. This can be used on the face and other sensitive areas without worry of causing further damage to your skin. Just don’t use it for more than 3 days in a row–it’ll make your skin peel even faster!
Don’t use this if:
- You’re allergic to hydrocortisone (the active ingredient) or any of its other ingredients (like lanolin). If you’re unsure whether or not you are allergic, try a small patch test on one small spot before slathering yourself with the whole tube!
- You have open sores/wounds on your body where the cream might get into them and cause infection; instead try something else like aloe vera gel which will help soothe irritation without irritating existing wounds further…
Use aloe-rich products on your face.
You can also use aloe-rich products on your face. Aloe vera gel or moisturizer is good for the skin, and it’s a natural moisturizer that helps keep the skin hydrated. It will help prevent peeling and flaking by keeping your face soft and supple.
You can help your skin heal faster by taking care of it in the aftermath of sunburn
While you may be tempted to just let your skin heal itself, it’s actually important to take care of your sunburned skin. That’s because there are a few things that can help speed up the healing process and prevent peeling or scarring.
If you have mild sunburn, try these tips:
- Keep cool. It might seem counterintuitive, but staying cool will help soothe your skin and reduce inflammation. You don’t want to go swimming or get in an ice bath (unless instructed by a doctor), but taking a cool shower will work just fine!
- Moisturize often–but not with harsh products like aloe vera gel or alcohol-based lotions.* These can irritate already inflamed skin even more.* Instead opt for creams containing ingredients such as dimethicone which helps seal moisture into the outer layer of skin without clogging pores.* If possible try using an over-the-counter moisturizer daily after showering – this prevents drying out during this crucial time period when most people aren’t thinking about caring for their bodies properly.”
how to make sunburn peel faster
Sunburns can cause redness, swelling, pain, and in more severe cases, peeling.
Peeling skin is a sign that your body is healing itself, but it can be irritating, itchy, and unsightly while it’s happening.
If your skin starts flaking after a particularly bad sunburn, the one thing you absolutely should not do is pick, peel, or scratch the peeling skin.
“Do not pick peeling skin because it can make you more prone to infection,” says Shari Lipner, MD, PhD, a dermatology professor at Weill Cornell Medicine. This is because pulling or scratching off peeling skin can expose unhealed skin underneath, which will not have the proper barrier to fend off potentially harmful bacteria.
So while your skin is peeling, it’s best to allow your body to repair itself. Your skin will usually stop peeling on its own once the sunburn has healed, which takes about a week for mild to moderate burns.
In the name of finding relief, here are the five best ways to treat peeling skin, along with simple steps you can take to avoid getting sunburned altogether.
1. Use a cold compress or take a cool shower
Applying a cold compress or taking a cool shower won’t necessarily stop the peeling. However, if your sunburn feels especially warm, swollen, and uncomfortable, the cool temperatures may provide temporary relief.
But don’t exfoliate — avoid using loofahs and scrub brushes when showering, as these can pull on or irritate peeling skin, Lipner says.
You can also make cold compress at home by adding ice cubes to a sturdy plastic bag.
Important: Never apply ice directly to sunburned skin, because the severe cold could damage the skin farther and potentially worsen peeling and delay the healing process.
2. Apply aloe vera and a soy-based moisturizer
Using the right moisturizer may help speed up the healing process and reduce peeling.
Joshua Zeichner, MD, the director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital, recommends using a product containing aloe vera gel, as aloe can help hydrate your skin and has anti-inflammatory compounds that can reduce swelling and promote healing.
“It is rich in water and skin-soothing sugars that form a protective seal over the surface of the skin,” Zeichner says.
The American Academy of Dermatology also recommends soy-based moisturizers. Soy contains antioxidants like Vitamin E and isoflavones that help fight the free radicals caused by sun exposure.
In particular, a 2008 lab study looking at the soy isoflavones genistein and daidzein found that they had a protective effect against UVB damage in human skin cells. Another 2008 study found that soy phytosterols — which are present in soybeans, soybean oil, and some soy-based cosmetics and moisturizers — helped the skin barrier repair itself more quickly than a control product.
Using moisturizers with ceramides can also offer ample hydration and aid in the skin barrier’s recovery. If your skin is especially swollen, inflamed, or itchy, you can try a hydrocortisone cream as a spot treatment.
how long does skin peel after sunburn
Peeling usually stops when the burn has healed — about seven days for mild to moderate burns.” Finally, it’s imperative to practice effective sun protection while a peeling burn is healing. “After sustaining a sunburn, your skin is more sensitive to additional UV damage,” Dr. Curcio says.