How To Get Rid Of Sun-Scorched, Scaly & Parched Skin

We're in the peak season for showing off glossy, glowing skin. Summer months mean breezier clothing, lighter layers, and significantly more time outdoors. And with that, your skin is likely getting more sun exposure than normal. UV damage is real, and it can lead to fine lines, dark spots, sagging, and texture. In fact, sun damage accounts for up to 80% of visible aging1!

But one lesser-known skin side effect from the sun is increased dryness. 

Unprotected sun exposure does a number on the skin. "The DNA in skin cells gets damaged when the skin is unprotected and exposed to UVA and UVB radiation from the sun," explains Jodi LoGerfo, DNP, who is a doctor of nursing practice and a family nurse practitioner certified in family medicine and dermatology. The damage done to the DNA can result in premature aging, as well as skin diseases and even cancer.

But it can also deplete your skin of moisture, degrade the lipid barrier, and even alter the microbiome. 

High temperatures and sun can cause moisture in the skin to evaporate into the air around it, an occurrence called transepidermal water loss. As the water leaves the skin, the epidermis dehydrates and can appear ashy and parched.

The heat and UV rays also damage the skin's natural oils. The skin's moisture barrier is made up of lipids and fatty acids that create a seal, which helps keep moisture trapped in the dermis. When the moisture barrier is damaged, it can lead to a scaly, cracked appearance—as well as increased irritation and sensitivity. 

Spending time outdoors in the sunshine has loads of benefits for your mental and physical health—so we're not suggesting you avoid it altogether. Just do so responsibly! 

Apres sun, it's all about hydration. Look for ingredients that restore moisture, feed the skin lipids and fatty acids, and have anti-inflammatory properties (to help mitigate any damage). 

"The gold standard for a natural product is aloe," board-certified dermatologist Christina Chung, M.D., once told mbg. "It works well for post-sun care because of its anti-inflammatory properties."

While it's the most famous, it's certainly not the only one. Oat extracts, like oat oil and colloidal oat, have soothing properties. "Extracts of oat have been shown to lessen inflammatory mediators in the skin, giving significant clinical improvements in skin dryness, scaling, roughness, and itch intensity," board-certified dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, M.D., FAAD, once told us about using the ingredient in skin care.