Home after a sunny holiday? How to help your skin recover

After a holiday with sunshine, heat, swimming and long hours outdoors, your skin may feel drier, tighter or more reactive than usual. You may also notice more pigmentation or that your radiance has faded. It can be tempting to reach for acids and exfoliation immediately, but the best first step is to determine whether your skin is simply dehydrated or actually sunburnt.

Is your skin tanned, dehydrated or sunburnt?

Skin that is mainly dehydrated may feel tight and look dull, but it is not hot or sore. Sunburnt skin, on the other hand, is often red, warm, stinging or painful and may start to peel or blister. A tan is also the skin's response to UV radiation and does not replace sun protection.

If your skin is burnt, let it rest. Avoid further sun exposure and wait before having facials or using scrubs, acids, retinoids and other strong active products until your skin has healed and feels normal again.

The first days at home

Keep your routine simple while your skin recovers:

• Cleanse gently with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser.
• Moisturise with a fragrance-free product your skin already tolerates.
• Cool sunburnt skin with cool water or a clean, damp cloth. Do not place ice directly on the skin.
• Leave blisters intact and do not pull away peeling skin.
• Pause scrubs, AHA and BHA acids, retinoids and anything that stings or irritates.
• Protect your skin with clothing, a hat and shade. Use broad-spectrum sunscreen on uncovered skin.

Sun protection still matters when the holiday is over. UV radiation is present in Sweden too, and recently exposed or exfoliated skin needs protection to reduce the risk of further damage and more uneven pigmentation.

When is Vitamin-C PRO suitable?

Once your skin has settled, dermalogica Vitamin-C PRO can be a good option for skin that looks dull or uneven after the holiday. Vitamin C is used for its antioxidant properties and to improve radiance. The treatment also includes a multivitamin peel, so it should not be performed on skin that is still hot, red, tender or peeling.

There is no single waiting period that suits everyone. Your sun exposure, whether you burnt and the products you use all affect when your skin is ready. A skin analysis before treatment determines whether Vitamin-C PRO is suitable now or whether your skin needs more time and a gentler approach first.

If your skin is still sensitive

If any sunburn has healed but your skin remains dry or reactive, an individually tailored dermalogica ProSkin may be a better first step. For persistent sensitivity and redness, dermalogica PRO Calm may be relevant, but these treatments also require an assessment first. Active sunburn should be allowed to heal, not treated in a salon.

When should you seek medical advice?

Contact healthcare services if you have widespread blistering, severe pain, fever, nausea or feel generally unwell after sun exposure. A new pigmented mark or a mole that grows or changes should also be assessed by healthcare professionals rather than treated as a cosmetic concern.

Once your skin feels normal again, you are welcome to book a skin analysis in Nynäshamn. We will tailor the treatment to how your skin is now – not simply to the fact that you have returned from a sunny holiday.