Doctor issues scary warning for anybody who has had ‘peeling skin’ after a sunburn: ‘No tan is worth this’
Peeling skin after a day in the sun is all too common among those who live in Australia – but a doctor has urged people to remember what it’s a sign of.
Emergency room doctor Dr Joe Whittington issued his stark warning online after realising many didn’t know their peeling skin was a sign of genetic damage, not just ‘dryness’.
‘Sunburn peeling might look satisfying, but it is actually your body removing skin cells that were damaged by ultraviolet radiation,’ he said in a TikTok video.
What’s actually happening when skin peels
According to Dr Whittington, peeling after sunburn is the result of a protective process happening deep within the skin.
When ultraviolet (UV) radiation damages the DNA inside skin cells, those cells can trigger a built-in self-destruct mechanism known as apoptosis.
He explained that a few days earlier, UV radiation would have caused the sunburn, likely leaving the skin red and inflamed while damaging DNA in the cells near the surface.
‘Your immune system then clears them away, which is why the top layer of skin starts peeling a few days after a bad sunburn,’ he said.
Peeling skin after a day in the sun is all too common among those who live in Australia – but a doctor has urged people to remember what it’s a sign of
Cancer Council NSW explains that the long-term damage to skin cells remains even after the visible burn has healed. Even mild sunburn can increase the risk of melanoma, and repeated or severe sunburn further raises the risk.
‘It is essentially your body getting rid of cells that were too genetically damaged to keep around.’
Why sunburn is more serious than many people think
Health experts say the warning is particularly relevant in Australia, which has some of the highest UV levels in the world.
According to the Cancer Council, sunburn occurs when the amount of ultraviolet radiation your skin is exposed to exceeds its ability to protect itself using melanin.
Skin that has been sunburnt typically turns red within hours, with the burn continuing to develop over the next one to three days.
Most people who experience sunburn will also peel, as the body sheds damaged skin cells and makes way for new skin underneath.
However, experts warn the damage does not completely disappear once the redness fades.
Experts warn the damage does not completely disappear once the redness fades and peeling begins
Why it’s easy to get burnt
The time it takes for skin to burn varies depending on several factors including skin type, time of day, time of year and the surrounding environment.
People with fair skin burn faster than those with darker skin, while UV levels are typically higher at certain times of the day and during summer months.
Surfaces such as water, sand, cement and snow can also reflect sunlight, increasing exposure.
Importantly, UV radiation can still damage the skin even if you do not feel hot.
Health authorities warn that UV is present every day and can remain high even when temperatures feel cool. It can also pass through light cloud cover.
Australians are advised to use sun protection whenever the UV index is three or above – even if they are not planning to spend long in the sun.
