What should you know about exfoliating peeling skin after sunburn?

Sunburn injures surface skin, and peeling is the body’s way of releasing damaged cells as the area recovers. Pulling flakes or using a scrub can create tiny breaks, worsen tenderness, and increase the chance of irritation. Peeling Skin can have other causes, including Athlete's Foot or Psoriasis, so a recurring or unusual pattern should not automatically be treated as sunburn.

Take cool showers or use a cool damp cloth, then pat dry. Apply a plain, fragrance-free moisturiser while the skin is slightly damp. Drink fluids, wear loose clothing, and keep the area covered from direct sunlight. Do not pick, brush, use acids, or apply numbing products to damaged skin unless a clinician advises it. If blisters are present, leave them intact and ask a clinician how to care for them.

Seek medical advice for extensive blistering, severe pain, marked swelling, repeated vomiting, confusion, faintness, or signs of infection such as worsening warmth, pus, or fever. A clinician should also review peeling that persists, returns without sun exposure, or affects areas such as the scalp or palms. Read more about Sunburn if you need help identifying the original injury.

Does this peeling fit sunburn or another condition? How should I dress or moisturise the area? Are any blisters infected, and when can I restart my usual skincare?