Sunburn is a very common experience within almost all of us. Ultraviolet exposure which soaks our skin not more than 20 minutes almost possibly cause sunburn. When you have your skin exposed to the sun for certain length of time, the body triggers a natural defense, wherein the inflammation phase is the initial one. Many people experience peeling skin afterwards, which are not only itching and burning, but also aesthetically uninteresting.

How long skin peels after sunburn

Skin peeling occurring after sunburn is the body’s natural way of removing skin cells that have been damaged by the ultraviolet. These damaged skin, if not removed, have got an increased risk of becoming cancerous and triggering the skin cancer. To minimize the risk, these cells sacrifice themselves, resulted in whole layers of the damaged skin peeling off. Eventually, these will be replaced by skin cells underneath the damaged layers. There are several ways to make the skin peel faster.

How severely skin peels with sunburn and how long it is going to last depend on the degree of the burn and thus, the damages it causes.

• First-degree burns are red and painful. With a first-degree burn, your skin will swell a little bit, and the swollen area will be painful when touched. This kind of sunburn only affects the outer layer of the skin. Within 1 to 2 days after the burn, the skin on the burn is going to peel off. Normally, these peeled off skin cells are going to stay on the burn for 3 or 4 next days, before it completely falls by itself. However, skin color and complexion have a role in triggering different effects of sunburn to the skin. People with fairer complexion, therefore, are more susceptible sunburn and thus, may experience more severe and longer skin peeling afterwards. Most sunburns are the first-degree burns and thus, will likely to cause skin peeling that is going to disappear within 3 to 4 days afterwards. Although how long the skin is going to peel after sunburn is mostly affected by the damage caused to the skin layers, your treatments for the burn is also essential. Therefore, put in mind that you:
  • Are advised to apply home remedies with cooling effect to reduce pain within the burn and moisturize the peeling skin area.
  • Need to take more liquid to make sure your skin is sufficiently hydrated.
  • Should avoid using harsh skin care products and cosmetics during the healing process.
• Second-degree burns are signed by blisters and severely inflamed skin. These blisters may develop into pus-filled blisters which are painful. This kind of burns are not likely to cause severe skin peel in its initial period, as it affects not only the surface of the skin, but also the deeper layer of the skin, or the dermis. If you are experiencing peeling skin with this kind of burns, it is likely be caused by overly-dry skin and damaged skin cells during the healing process, which will occur after the blisters goes down or healed. The skin is constantly making and thus, shedding the skin cells during the healing process, which with the second degree burns may last longer than the first-degree one. If you avoid picking at it and get the skin moisture sufficiently, your peeling skin will disappear within two weeks after the burn.
• Third-degree burns are signed by inflamed skin and damaged inner layers of the skin. This does not normally cause pain, since some nerves are also damaged by the accident. Hence, with third-degree burns, peeling does not commonly occur.

People susceptible to peeling after sunburn

Your complexion and age determine the risk you have got concerning sunburns. People with fair complexion have got the skin that produce limited melanin, which protects the skin from damages. Hence, they are more susceptible to sunburn and peeling skin afterwards. Children under 6 and the elderly over 60 are also more susceptible to sunburns, as their skin is more sensitive to the ultraviolet. These people may easily get the first-degree burns, with which peeling skin that lasts for 3 to 4 days after the burn is not uncommon.