How to Get Rid of Peeling Skin After a Sunburn

posted in Beauty on 5/22/2014

A sunburn is evidence of skin damage. The sun's rays have literally burned your skin. Often, the damage to the top layers of skin is irreparable. As your sunburn heals, it may begin to peel.

This is your body's way of removing the dead, damaged skin on the surface to make way for new, undamaged skin below. The peeling process can be unsightly. There are various things you can do to expedite it, however.

Things You'll Need: Body scrub Facial scrub Aloe vera gel Washcloth Almond oil Granulated sugar Water Hydroxy acids

Step 1 Exfoliate your skin. Exfoliation helps to remove dead cells from the surface of your skin. Use a gentle body or facial scrub daily to help remove the dead skin from your sunburn more quickly.

Step 2 Apply aloe vera gel to your skin. Aloe vera gel is deeply hydrating and can restore moisture to sunburned skin. If applied regularly, you can effectively get rid of the dead skin. Opt for aloe vera gel that is free of added fragrances and dyes, which can further irritate sunburned skin.

Step 3 Use a washcloth to remove dead skin. A washcloth is soft enough that it won't irritate your already damaged skin. Use light pressure and circular motions to move the washcloth over your skin. This will stimulate the skin's surface, helping to remove the dead skin.

Step 4 Do not pull at dead skin. Your body will release the dead skin as it is ready. If you manually peel the skin off, you could cause bleeding and serious damage, even scarring.

Step 5 Mix 1/2 cup almond oil with 1 cup granulated sugar. Use the mixture as a natural exfoliating scrub to remove the dead skin from your sunburn. The sugar granules will work to gently exfoliate the skin, while the almond oil is deeply hydrating, preventing the exfoliation process from drying your damaged skin too much.

Step 6 Drink lots of water. Sunburn causes dehydration. To prevent further dead skin and get rid of existing dead skin more quickly, hydrate your skin from the inside. Drink at least 64 ounces of water daily.

Step 7 Use hydroxy acids on your skin. Hydroxy acids occur naturally. They greatly encourage skin cell regeneration, helping your body to get rid of dead skin from a sunburn more quickly. You can find hydroxy acids in various forms, such as cleansers, serums and lotions.