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 a 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 may appear and then the skin will begin to peel. This is called desquamation.

This means that part of the cells of the epidermis are evacuated by the body. It’s a natural phenomenon which normally allows the renewal of the skin. But when a burn has occurred, this phenomenon is exacerbated. Dead and burned skin will then come off in patches.

"It’is a way for the skin to heal after having suffered an external attack", explains Dr Jean-Luc Rigon, dermatologist-venerologist in Nancy, on the Michaille pharmacy website. "The phenomenon is irreversible: the parts of the skin that begin to peel off will eventually come off."

Even if it’s inevitable, let nature take its course and above all, don’ 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 hydrate the skin in quantity using a moisturizing and soothing cream. Also, avoid showers that are too hot and above all do not exfoliate your skin. You risk making the situation worse for your already fragile skin.