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We all know how important it is to slather on SPF when you’re heading outdoors, especially in the summer. But everyone makes mistakes, and sometimes, those mistakes leave us with a gnarly sunburn.
Your first instinct is likely to douse your hot-to-the-touch skin in aloe vera. And while it feels like instant relief, there’s more you can be doing for your damaged skin.
We asked Dr. Hadley King for the ultimate after-sun routine, including her secret to prevent peeling.
- Best for Head-to-Toe Hydration: Lubriderm Daily Moisture Body Lotion
- Best Barrier Repair Cream: Prequel Skin Face Moisturizer Peptide Cream
- Best Soothing Mist: Bioelements Soothing Reset Mist
How to Keep Your Sunburn From Peeling
The temptation to pick at your skin might be overwhelming, but you can’t succumb, says Dr. King. While you can’t completely prevent peeling, you can minimize discomfort and dryness.
Instead, after a cooling shower, Dr. King advises applying a moisturizer onto slightly damp skin. Because UV exposure can also weaken the skin barrier, cause dehydration, dryness, sensitivity, and inflammation, this step
She says to “Look for gentle, fragrance-free moisturizers and ingredients such as ceramides, glycerin, hyaluronic acid, squalane, colloidal oatmeal, and soothing botanical ingredients.”
If there’s one thing you should not do, it’s exfoliate. Dr. King calls it the “most important thing” to avoid when treating sunburns.
She says to steer clear of “exfoliating acids, retinoids, scrubs, brushes, and other potentially irritating products until the skin has completely recovered.”
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