- Moisturise
Do so as often as you need to in order to keep skin moist, which lessens the appearance of flaking and peeling. Choose a moisturiser with vitamin E as it can help repair skin and protect it from free radical damage, recommends Dr Cheong Wai Kwong, senior consultant dermatologist from Specialist Skin Clinic.
Wait for at least three days, or until the redness improves, before applying cosmetics, says Dr Cheong. Otherwise, you could make matters worse.
A cream with a steroid like cortisone will help reduce the inflammation caused by a bad sunburn. It will also limit the damage of UV radiation, explains Dr Cheong. An over-the-counter cortisone cream (one per cent hydrocortisone) may help but one that’s prescription-strength might work better.
The active ingredients in these type of products may aggravate and sensitise sunburnt skin, and in turn, cause more peeling, says Dr Low Chai Ling, medical director of The Sloane Clinic Singapore.
Text: Shape Singapore
Additional Reporting: Atika Lim