Does Peeling Sunburn Remove Tan?
You might have spent some time in the sun building up a tan, only to notice your skin peeling after a few days.
You could be so tempted to peel the dead skin away, but you are worried that it might affect your tan.
Does peeling sunburn remove a tan?
Peeling a sunburn can result in your tan becoming lighter, and it can also cause your tan to fade quickly. It might not strip your skin of a tan straight away, but it does mean that the process of fading will likely quicken
Read on to find out more about how peeling a sunburn might affect your tan, and what you can do to even your tan out, and maybe prevent peeling next time you lie out in the sun!
Will Peeling Remove A Tan?
There are two main types of UV rays emitted by the sun. These are UVA and UVB, and both damage and affect the skin differently.
UVA rays cause long-term damage to the skin and can cause tanning.
UVB rays cause skin burning, and sunburn typically occurs when the skin is exposed to mostly UVB rays. When your skin turns red from a sunburn, it is a sign that the sun has damaged it.
A tan is caused in a very similar way to how sunburn is caused, with the top layer of the skin being affected by UV rays.
The skin reacts to UV rays by producing more melanin to protect itself, but excessive exposure can lead to sunburn.
This is important to understand, as it helps determine whether peeling sunburn removes a tan.
The skin that peels away from sunburn is dead cells that are expelled by your skin to remove any potential DNA damage, saving the skin that is left behind.
This is a thin layer of skin that is peeled away, but it is the top layer of skin, and this is where a tan is usually found.
You will not be peeling away all of the sunburn or tan when peeling your skin, but you will be peeling away some of it, and with it, the darkest potential tan that you would have been able to develop.
How To Preserve Your Tan While Peeling
The skin that is peeling away after a sunburn will not go away on its own and should be removed.
You need to be gentle when removing this skin, and instead of actually peeling it away, it could be better to gently exfoliate your skin.
Be cautious not to exfoliate your skin if your sunburn is still painful. Use a very light body scrub or an exfoliating mitt to gently scrub away dead skin, as this will prevent you from removing more than necessary.
These peeling skin cells will be easily removed from the skin, and exfoliating will help remove them with ease.
Once the dead skin has been removed, moisturize your skin with a hydrating and nourishing moisturizer.
This will prevent further skin drying and keep your skin nourished and protected as it recovers from sunburn.
How To Prevent Peeling When Tanning
The best way to prevent peeling when tanning is to avoid exposure to the sun altogether and instead use a self-tanner or a spray tan.
However, if you are set on going out into the sun to tan, here is what you can do to prevent your skin from peeling:
Use SPF
Use an appropriate SPF when heading into the sun. An SPF 15 or SPF 30 is enough to allow you to tan while preventing your skin from burning and peeling afterward.
If you do not want to tan and spend more time in the sun, use an SPF 50.
Using a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or 30 will not prevent you from tanning, but it will work effectively to prevent peeling when your skin is recovering.
Moisturize Your Skin
Moisturized, hydrated skin is less likely to peel after tanning. Hydrated skin is better equipped to turn UV radiation into melanin production, thus resulting in a tan.
Dry and dehydrated skin will burn, leading to peeling.
Exfoliate
It is a good idea to exfoliate your skin the day before tanning.
Dead skin cells accumulate on the surface of your skin, and when you tan and burn, these are the first to slough off and possibly peel.
By exfoliating your skin, you will remove excess dead skin cells, making your skin less likely to peel after exposure to the sun.
Do not exfoliate too soon before tanning, as your skin might still be too sensitive to handle UV radiation.
Use Tanning Products
Tanning accelerators and tanning lotions (we love this tanning lotion from Dark Tans Exclusive) can do wonders at preventing your skin from peeling after tanning.
These work by being packed with hydrating and nourishing ingredients, which allow the skin to tan instead of burn when exposed to the sun.
These also help to retain moisture on your skin well after tanning and stimulate melanin production, contributing to a deeper, more natural-looking brown color.
Keep in mind that you will still need to use an SPF when using a tanning product, as it offers no protection from UV rays.
Using both will be perfect for preventing peeling and developing a bronze tan.
Use Self-Tanner
As mentioned above, a self-tanner is the best way to develop a tan without peeling (we love this one from B.TAN).
You do not have to spend any time in the sun at all, and you will still be able to develop a bronzed, golden glow.
Does Peeling Sunburn Remove Tan?
Peeling sunburn may not completely remove a tan, but it can cause your tan to appear uneven or lighter.
Your skin tans on the outermost layer, and when the top layer of skin is peeled away, some of the tan is also removed.
The best thing to do is to use sunscreen to prevent peeling while tanning. If it does appear, keep your skin moisturized and nourished to prevent further drying or peeling, and to help extend your tan for longer.
Related Questions
Does your skin go back to normal once it has peeled?
Peeling stops once your skin has healed, which could take several days.
However, while your skin may appear normal, damage has likely been done by the UV radiation.
Can peeling sunburn cause scarring?
There is a risk that peeling a sunburn can cause scarring, as it might not peel evenly all over.
If the skin is not yet ready to be peeled, you might pull off healthy skin, damaging the top layer and risking a scar.
Related Articles
Can You Tan or Burn After 4 PM?
