Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesHome RemediesFAQ
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Home Remedies
FAQ
Some over-the-counter (OTC) and home remedies can help peeling skin, such as a gentle moisturizer or exfoliant or sleeping with a humidifier in your room. In some cases, peeling skin could also be a sign of an underlying health condition that requires treatment from a healthcare provider.
Barcin / Getty Images
Causes of Skin Peeling
When the skin peels, it is usually a part of the healing process after it has been damaged. There are many different causes of this damage, including:
If your skin is peeling and you are unsure of the cause, see a healthcare provider in order to help rule out serious health conditions.
The health condition that is causing the skin to peel should be treated first before trying remedies that may do harm. For example, there are no available treatments for peeling skin syndrome and using home remedies may make the peeling even worse.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderPeeling skin isn’t always serious, but it can be. Symptoms that should prompt you to see your healthcare provider include:Fever and chillsSwelling or pain in the skinConfusion or disorientationDifficulty breathing or shortness of breathBlisters or hivesNausea, vomiting, or diarrheaSwollen lymph nodesVision changesPain in your joints
When to See a Healthcare Provider
Peeling skin isn’t always serious, but it can be. Symptoms that should prompt you to see your healthcare provider include:Fever and chillsSwelling or pain in the skinConfusion or disorientationDifficulty breathing or shortness of breathBlisters or hivesNausea, vomiting, or diarrheaSwollen lymph nodesVision changesPain in your joints
Peeling skin isn’t always serious, but it can be. Symptoms that should prompt you to see your healthcare provider include:
Home Remedies for Peeling Skin
Getting rid of raw or peeling skin depends on what is causing it. For example, if your skin is peeling after you get a sunburn, the best thing you can do is to leave it alone.If the injury is superficial and not serious, there are a few things you can do to help the skin heal.
Don’t try to pull the skin off yourself. Instead, let it fall off when it’s ready. In the meantime, it’s important to keep peeling skin out of the sun, since the layer underneath can be very sensitive.
Pat Skin Dry After Bathing
After you shower or bathe, pat your skin dry gently as opposed to rubbing it. Harsh rubbing with a towel can make peeling skin worse. It can also dry the skin further, causing it to become even more flaky.
You may also find it helpful to shower every other day instead of every day, and keep your showers short. This can help keep your skin from overdrying while it is healing.
How to Keep Your Skin Hydrated (and Why It’s Important)
Apply Moisturizer
As soon as you exit the bath or shower, the water on your skin begins to evaporate and your skin dries. Apply moisturizer right after bathing when the skin is still damp.This will help lock in the moisture and prevent your skin from drying out. Since dry skin can cause a damaged area to peel more, it’s important to stay moisturized.
Use a Soothing Cream
If your skin is raw and peeling, especially while recovering from a sunburn, try using a gentle, fragrance-free cream containing aloe. Oat-based products can also help soothe peeling skin. Products that contain cortisone may help reduce inflammation.
Use a Gentle Exfoliant
In some cases, a gentle exfoliant can help remove the dead skin cells that are flaking off. However, this should not be done to sunburned skin since it can make the burn worse and prolong the healing period.
How to Exfoliate Your Skin Safely
Try a Humidifier
Avoid Products That Dry Your Skin
Some products, especially soap, can dry your skin. While you are healing, it’s important to avoid these products and anything that might be irritating to the skin, such as scented products, retinoids, or products that contain glycolic acid.
The Best Humidifiers to Relieve Dry Skin
How long does peeled skin take to heal?The amount of time it takes for skin to stop peeling depends on the severity of the skin condition that caused it. If you’ve been sunburned, your skin may start to peel about three days after you’ve been burned and will stop once the burn has healed. For a mild burn, this usually takes around a week.
How long does peeled skin take to heal?
The amount of time it takes for skin to stop peeling depends on the severity of the skin condition that caused it. If you’ve been sunburned, your skin may start to peel about three days after you’ve been burned and will stop once the burn has healed. For a mild burn, this usually takes around a week.
Summary
Frequently Asked QuestionsIn children, COVID-19 has been linked to cases where the skin on the hands and feet begins peeling.This is a rare symptom and seems to be most common among children with mild COVID.Learn MoreGuide to CoronavirusOne of the most common causes of peeling feet is athlete’s foot, a condition in which a fungus grows on the skin, causing cracking, peeling, and flaking skin.Athlete’s foot is curable with over-the-counter and prescriptions treatments. However, there are other causes for peeling and foot rashes. Talk to a healthcare provider about any unusual changes in your skin.Learn MoreTreatments for Athlete’s FootYour body needs to shed the damaged skin, so you can’t stop the peeling, but you can relieve the pain and help your skin heal. Moisturize the area with aloe vera or a soy-based skin moisturizer.Avoid petroleum or oil-based skin products that will make the sunburn worse. Stay hydrated and use ibuprofen or aspirin to relieve pain.Learn MoreOver-the-Counter Sunburn ReliefDifferent treatments work for different people. At-home moisturizer treatments you can try include tea tree oil, coconut oil, or aloe vera products.Soaking in a tub with colloidal oatmeal, Dead Sea salts, or a baking soda bath can also help. Wearing soft fabrics can ease skin irritation and reduce flaking and peeling.Learn MorePsoriasis Overview
Frequently Asked Questions
In children, COVID-19 has been linked to cases where the skin on the hands and feet begins peeling.This is a rare symptom and seems to be most common among children with mild COVID.Learn MoreGuide to Coronavirus
In children, COVID-19 has been linked to cases where the skin on the hands and feet begins peeling.This is a rare symptom and seems to be most common among children with mild COVID.
Learn MoreGuide to Coronavirus
One of the most common causes of peeling feet is athlete’s foot, a condition in which a fungus grows on the skin, causing cracking, peeling, and flaking skin.Athlete’s foot is curable with over-the-counter and prescriptions treatments. However, there are other causes for peeling and foot rashes. Talk to a healthcare provider about any unusual changes in your skin.Learn MoreTreatments for Athlete’s Foot
One of the most common causes of peeling feet is athlete’s foot, a condition in which a fungus grows on the skin, causing cracking, peeling, and flaking skin.Athlete’s foot is curable with over-the-counter and prescriptions treatments. However, there are other causes for peeling and foot rashes. Talk to a healthcare provider about any unusual changes in your skin.
Learn MoreTreatments for Athlete’s Foot
Your body needs to shed the damaged skin, so you can’t stop the peeling, but you can relieve the pain and help your skin heal. Moisturize the area with aloe vera or a soy-based skin moisturizer.Avoid petroleum or oil-based skin products that will make the sunburn worse. Stay hydrated and use ibuprofen or aspirin to relieve pain.Learn MoreOver-the-Counter Sunburn Relief
Your body needs to shed the damaged skin, so you can’t stop the peeling, but you can relieve the pain and help your skin heal. Moisturize the area with aloe vera or a soy-based skin moisturizer.Avoid petroleum or oil-based skin products that will make the sunburn worse. Stay hydrated and use ibuprofen or aspirin to relieve pain.
Learn MoreOver-the-Counter Sunburn Relief
Different treatments work for different people. At-home moisturizer treatments you can try include tea tree oil, coconut oil, or aloe vera products.Soaking in a tub with colloidal oatmeal, Dead Sea salts, or a baking soda bath can also help. Wearing soft fabrics can ease skin irritation and reduce flaking and peeling.Learn MorePsoriasis Overview
Different treatments work for different people. At-home moisturizer treatments you can try include tea tree oil, coconut oil, or aloe vera products.Soaking in a tub with colloidal oatmeal, Dead Sea salts, or a baking soda bath can also help. Wearing soft fabrics can ease skin irritation and reduce flaking and peeling.
Learn MorePsoriasis Overview
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yin S.Chemical and common burns in children.Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2017;56(5_suppl):8S-12S. doi:10.1177/0009922817706975Kwakman JJM, Elshot YS, Punt CJA, Koopman M.Management of cytotoxic chemotherapy-induced hand-foot syndrome.Oncol Rev.2020;14(1):442. doi:10.4081/oncol.2020.442Khanna R, Guo EL, Kirkorian AY.Feeling the burn: Sunburn recall in staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.Pediatr Dermatol. 2022;39(2):330-332. doi:10.1111/pde.14937Gossack-Keenan KL, Kam AJ.Toxic shock syndrome: Still a timely diagnosis.Pediatr Emerg Care.2020;36(3):e163-e165. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000001310Has C.Peeling skin disorders: A paradigm for skin desquamation.J Invest Dermatol. 2018;138(8):1689-1691. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2018.05.020Singhal AK, Yadav DK, Soni B, Arya S.A case of peeling skin syndrome.Indian Dermatol Online J.2017;8(3):208-210. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_118_16The Skin Cancer Foundation.Why does my skin peel when I get sunburned and what should I do about it?American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists top tips for relieving dry skin.Andina‐Martínez D, Villaizán‐Perez C, Pavo‐García MR, et al.Acral peeling as the sole skin manifestation of COVID‐19 in children.Pediatr Dermatol. 2021;38(3):664-666. doi:10.1111/pde.14599National Library of Medicine.Athlete’s foot.Creaky Joints.Tired of dealing with psoriasis skin flakes? Get these dermatologists’ tips for coping.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Yin S.Chemical and common burns in children.Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2017;56(5_suppl):8S-12S. doi:10.1177/0009922817706975Kwakman JJM, Elshot YS, Punt CJA, Koopman M.Management of cytotoxic chemotherapy-induced hand-foot syndrome.Oncol Rev.2020;14(1):442. doi:10.4081/oncol.2020.442Khanna R, Guo EL, Kirkorian AY.Feeling the burn: Sunburn recall in staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.Pediatr Dermatol. 2022;39(2):330-332. doi:10.1111/pde.14937Gossack-Keenan KL, Kam AJ.Toxic shock syndrome: Still a timely diagnosis.Pediatr Emerg Care.2020;36(3):e163-e165. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000001310Has C.Peeling skin disorders: A paradigm for skin desquamation.J Invest Dermatol. 2018;138(8):1689-1691. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2018.05.020Singhal AK, Yadav DK, Soni B, Arya S.A case of peeling skin syndrome.Indian Dermatol Online J.2017;8(3):208-210. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_118_16The Skin Cancer Foundation.Why does my skin peel when I get sunburned and what should I do about it?American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists top tips for relieving dry skin.Andina‐Martínez D, Villaizán‐Perez C, Pavo‐García MR, et al.Acral peeling as the sole skin manifestation of COVID‐19 in children.Pediatr Dermatol. 2021;38(3):664-666. doi:10.1111/pde.14599National Library of Medicine.Athlete’s foot.Creaky Joints.Tired of dealing with psoriasis skin flakes? Get these dermatologists’ tips for coping.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Yin S.Chemical and common burns in children.Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2017;56(5_suppl):8S-12S. doi:10.1177/0009922817706975Kwakman JJM, Elshot YS, Punt CJA, Koopman M.Management of cytotoxic chemotherapy-induced hand-foot syndrome.Oncol Rev.2020;14(1):442. doi:10.4081/oncol.2020.442Khanna R, Guo EL, Kirkorian AY.Feeling the burn: Sunburn recall in staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.Pediatr Dermatol. 2022;39(2):330-332. doi:10.1111/pde.14937Gossack-Keenan KL, Kam AJ.Toxic shock syndrome: Still a timely diagnosis.Pediatr Emerg Care.2020;36(3):e163-e165. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000001310Has C.Peeling skin disorders: A paradigm for skin desquamation.J Invest Dermatol. 2018;138(8):1689-1691. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2018.05.020Singhal AK, Yadav DK, Soni B, Arya S.A case of peeling skin syndrome.Indian Dermatol Online J.2017;8(3):208-210. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_118_16The Skin Cancer Foundation.Why does my skin peel when I get sunburned and what should I do about it?American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists top tips for relieving dry skin.Andina‐Martínez D, Villaizán‐Perez C, Pavo‐García MR, et al.Acral peeling as the sole skin manifestation of COVID‐19 in children.Pediatr Dermatol. 2021;38(3):664-666. doi:10.1111/pde.14599National Library of Medicine.Athlete’s foot.Creaky Joints.Tired of dealing with psoriasis skin flakes? Get these dermatologists’ tips for coping.
Yin S.Chemical and common burns in children.Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2017;56(5_suppl):8S-12S. doi:10.1177/0009922817706975
Kwakman JJM, Elshot YS, Punt CJA, Koopman M.Management of cytotoxic chemotherapy-induced hand-foot syndrome.Oncol Rev.2020;14(1):442. doi:10.4081/oncol.2020.442
Khanna R, Guo EL, Kirkorian AY.Feeling the burn: Sunburn recall in staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome.Pediatr Dermatol. 2022;39(2):330-332. doi:10.1111/pde.14937
Gossack-Keenan KL, Kam AJ.Toxic shock syndrome: Still a timely diagnosis.Pediatr Emerg Care.2020;36(3):e163-e165. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000001310
Has C.Peeling skin disorders: A paradigm for skin desquamation.J Invest Dermatol. 2018;138(8):1689-1691. doi:10.1016/j.jid.2018.05.020
Singhal AK, Yadav DK, Soni B, Arya S.A case of peeling skin syndrome.Indian Dermatol Online J.2017;8(3):208-210. doi:10.4103/idoj.IDOJ_118_16
The Skin Cancer Foundation.Why does my skin peel when I get sunburned and what should I do about it?
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Dermatologists top tips for relieving dry skin.
Andina‐Martínez D, Villaizán‐Perez C, Pavo‐García MR, et al.Acral peeling as the sole skin manifestation of COVID‐19 in children.Pediatr Dermatol. 2021;38(3):664-666. doi:10.1111/pde.14599
National Library of Medicine.Athlete’s foot.
Creaky Joints.Tired of dealing with psoriasis skin flakes? Get these dermatologists’ tips for coping.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
