You've got sunburn and your skin is “peeling”… find out why and how to treat it

Coup de soleil : pourquoi la peau pèle-t-elle ?

You have been out in the sun for far too long and now you have a sunburn. In other words, you have suffered a skin burn from UVB rays. In a few hours, your skin will end up peeling. Why ? What is happening to your skin at this time ?

After sunburn, the skin turns red. This reddening is due to vasodilation of the superficial skin vessels. But often if the burn is more intense, it doesn't stop there. After several hours, blisters can appear and then the skin will start to peel. This is called desquamation.

This means that some of the cells of the epidermis are evacuated by the body. This is a natural phenomenon that normally allows the skin to renew itself. But when a burn has occurred, this phenomenon is exacerbated. Dead and burnt skin will then peel off in patches.

“It's a way for the skin to heal after being subjected to external aggression”, explains Dr. Jean-Luc Rigon, dermatologist-venereologist in Nancy, on the Michaille pharmacy website. “The phenomenon is irreversible: the parts of the skin that start to peel off will eventually peel off.”

Even if it's inevitable, let nature take its course and don't tear off the peeling skin. Doing so could cause healing problems and disrupt the repair process.

What to do ?

The most important thing is to moisturize your skin in quantity with a moisturizing and soothing cream. Also, avoid showers that are too hot and especially do not exfoliate your skin. You risk making the situation worse for your already fragile skin.