Skin peeling after a tanning session: what steps should be taken?

The desquamation is a natural skin regeneration phenomenon that typically occurs every 28 days. It involves the skin shedding dead cells (corneocytes) from its surface and letting them fall off in the form of scales. This process occurs on all areas of the skin and is invisible to the naked eye. However, it is not uncommon to observe an excessive desquamation after a tanning session. This is a defense and skin reconstruction process, which occurs when the skin's hydration has been significantly disrupted after sun exposure.

Indeed, UV rays can damage the hydrolipidic film of the epidermis. This film is primarily composed of sebum and sweat, forming a protective barrier on the skin's surface, which helps maintain its hydration and protect it from external aggressions. However, when UV rays penetrate the skin, they generate free radicals in the cells, damaging them through various oxidative processes. This also affects the cells of the sebaceous glands, which produce sebum, thereby weakening the hydrolipidic film.

Free radicals can also attack the lipids of the stratum corneum by oxidizing the unsaturated fatty acids that make them up, as the double bond of this type of molecules is a vulnerable site to oxidation. This leads to the formation of lipid peroxides, unstable compounds causing additional damage to the skin. The integrity of the stratum corneum is then compromised and the lipids lose fluidity, which increases skin permeability and water loss.

The first step to take when dealing with peeling skin is to hydrate it intensely. Applying a cream daily that contains humectants and emollients will help the skin rebuild its hydrolipidic film and reduce insensible water loss. You can also turn to nourishing treatments, which work at the level of the horny layer to promote the relipidation of the epidermis. Shea butter or avocado oil are excellent ingredient choices for this, and will also help alleviate feelings of dryness and skin tightness.

At Typology, we offer several moisturizing treatments for the face, such as our 9-ingredient moisturizing cream, and for the body, like our 10-ingredient cream. These minimalist formulas respect all skin types, even the most sensitive ones. You will also find several nourishing creams for the face and body, rich in shea butter (INCI: Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter) , providing softness and comfort to the skin.