Almost all of us have experienced sunburn – and many of us were probably not wearing sunscreen at the time. (Oops.) Maybe if we truly understood what was happening to our skin as we nonchalantly soaked up the sun for "just 10 more minutes," we wouldn’t be so lax.
A sunburn is the skin’s response to extreme ultraviolet (UV) exposure and indicates severe damage. In as little as 10 minutes of intense UV exposure, the skin sets into motion a system of defence against this enemy. Sunburn is a sign that your skin has been overwhelmed by this harmful UV radiation, and the damage it causes can often be worse than we realise.
The first indication of sun damage is redness. This is the body’s inflammatory response in situations requiring repair and is a result of dilating blood vessels. The skin will then start to lose moisture and hydration, which will be apparent with a feeling of tightness. Slowly, skin cells will start to thicken, and melanin (pigment) will be produced (tanning) in an attempt to stop the UV rays from penetrating through to the deeper layers and damaging the DNA of the cells.
Exposure of skin to high levels of sunlight may result in hypo or hyperpigmentation, which appears as irregular light or dark patches. The body is excellent at coping with minimal amounts of damage but if exposure is greater than the body’s ability to repair and mop up, more serious consequences may result. If DNA is damaged and its repair mechanisms are inhibited, skin cancer may occur making sun protection vital in preventing long-term damage.
Why Does the Skin Peel?
Peeling after a sunburn is your body’s way of getting rid of the damaged cells that are at risk of "losing control" and becoming cancerous. Due to this danger, all damaged cells are instructed to sacrifice themselves by repair mechanisms within these cells. This mass death of cells results in whole layers of damaged skin peeling off, to be replaced by other cells underneath those layers. Peeling after sunburn is your skin's natural form of self-protection and healing after sunburn damage.
I Have a Sunburn, What Should I Do Now?
First of all, you should take care of the cause of your problem: get out of the sun immediately. Sun protection from sunburn is key in preventing further damage. Drink plenty of water as you may be dehydrated. If skin is severely blistered, seek help from a medical practitioner. Otherwise, it is important to take down the inflammation and try to reduce damage to the deeper layers of your skin.
Take a cool bath (no products added) and then dry gently, dab at the skin to dry yourself, this will help to avoid any discomfort. We recommend avoiding greasy creams or moisturisers, which prevent the skin from cooling and may make the sunburn situation worse. Instead, apply a generous amount of an after-sun gel to soothe your skin and then stay out of the sun and the heat.
When choosing an after-sun cream or moisturiser, look for those that include key healing and soothing ingredients, such as clove, liquorice, lavender, cucumber and yucca. These ingredients help to reduce irritation, pain and redness associated with sunburn. Japanese Alder is another incredible ingredient that can help to accelerate the repair of UV-induced DNA damage. Couple this with ingredients such as algae and hyaluronic acid to rehydrate the skin and you should be well on your way to calmer skin post sunburn.
And no, it is not then OK to go out into the sun the next day for another blast! Remember, your skin is still trying to heal and so must be kept out of direct sunlight for a good few days. Consistent sunburn protection is important, even when you're recovering. Keep in mind, the skin is a great record keeper. Even with a great after-sun product, irreparable damage may have occurred after sunburn in the form of premature aging or even skin cancer, that may only reveal itself later. When heading out for a day under the sun, always think twice before you decide to take “just another 10 minutes” in the sun – your immune system is listening!
How Do I Avoid Sunburn?
Daily sun protection is key to long-term skin health and avoiding the harmful impacts of sunburn and UV rays. Before heading outside, ensure you have applied sunscreen with a high SPF rating to your skin and use a facial sunscreen to protect the delicate skin on your face. It’s also important when in direct sunlight, particularly for long periods, to pair your sunscreen with a hat and seek shade to avoid sunburn.
At Dermalogica, our SPF sunscreen and sun care skin products collection offers a range of creams and moisturisers in different SPF categories. Discover the right face sunscreen or body sunscreen for your skin today or speak to one of the Dermalogica skin experts for more information.