Whether you bask in the sun for the cosmetic results or you live an outdoorsy lifestyle, extensive sun exposure can cause your skin to peel. You can't revive skin cells that are already sloughing off, but you may be able to take some steps to protect your skin from peeling in the future.
Cause
Cells in your skin produce more of the protective pigment melanin when your skin is exposed to ultraviolet rays. Melanin is what causes skin darkening, otherwise called a tan. You are limited to the amount of tanning you can do each day because your skin can only produce a set amount of melanin each day, according to Health Services at Columbia University. Ultraviolet rays may damage your skin if you don't have sufficient melanin to protect it. Your body responds by peeling off the outermost damaged layer of skin.
Considerations
Most peeling skin caused by sun damage can improve with over-the-counter creams and lotions that contain aloe vera, and it doesn't usually require any medical attention. Avoid using any lotions or creams that contain alcohol because alcohol may cause your skin to dry out further. Consult your doctor if you have a burn that covers a large area of your body with blisters, if you have severe pain or a high fever and if you have a severe sunburn that won't improve within a few days, recommends MayoClinic.com.
Warning Signs
Get medical attention as soon as possible if your peeling skin is accompanied by unexplained weight loss, fatigue, muscle pain, joint pain, fever, an overall feeling of illness or other symptoms that concern you. These symptoms may suggest that you have an infection or a more serious health problem.
Prevention
No single foolproof method can protect you from a peeling suntan, but you can take some steps to reduce your risk. If you plan to spend an extensive period in the sun, ease your way into it over a week. On Day 1, stay out in the sun for only 15 minutes. Add another 15 minutes to each consecutive day until you reach one hour of sun exposure. By this time you should be able to go outside for a full day as long as you apply sunscreen and reapply as the label instructs, according to Health Services at Columbia University. Be prudent about applying sunscreen and step into shade whenever possible.
Risks
Overexposure to ultraviolet rays may cause your skin to burn, age prematurely and develop cancer. You may not consider your risk for cancer or premature skin aging until you reach middle age, but by age 20 you have already been exposed to the majority of your lifetime ultraviolet ray exposure. Begin protecting yourself now to reduce your risk. You may even give your skin a chance to reverse some sun damage if you slather it with sunscreen every day.
