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Once a sunburn makes contact with your skin, you can't halt the inevitable process. First, you have to deal with the red, painful-to-the-touch skin. Then, you suffer the stage where your skin begins to peel like a snake stripping away its skin. Rather than hide under concealing clothes while your skin does its shedding, give it some help by nixing the problem peeling.
Balm it Up
Eyeball the label of after-sun products to find one that contains biocymentine -- a concoction of natural lipids that match those found in skin. Unfortunately, when your skin suffers a burn, it loses a lot of water and moisture, leaving it exposed to irritation. Smooth the balm onto your sunburned skin to help shield it from the environment and soothe the irritation.
Slough the Skin
Soaking and bathing in a warm-water bath can help you shed the dead skin. A soft washcloth does the trick of sloughing the unwanted skin away. Make sure not to get aggressive during the process, or you could end up getting rid of more skin than you want. Rub your wet skin gently with the washcloth to do the job, or look for disposable cleaning cloths made for dry or sensitive skin types.
Moisturize and Exfoliate
After shedding the skin, your skin still needs some TLC. Follow up with a moisturizing and exfoliating treatment. Look for a moisturizing formula that contains a mild alpha hydroxy acid to help move the peeling process along. Apply the lotion after each skin sloughing treatment.
Aftercare
Once the peeling has halted, you may notice some damage to your skin such as freckles or red blood vessels. Check in with a dermatologist to find out about a prescription for the recovery and repair of your skin. If your skin sports dark spots, ask for a prescription bleaching cream. Keep a tube of broad-spectrum sunscreen -- protects against UVA and UVB rays -- of at least SPF 30 in your purse or beach bag from here on out. Slather it on whenever you anticipate exposure.
