Compositions, kits and methods are provided for restoring skin barrier function to skin of a subject after a medical or a cosmetic procedure. In general, a composition containing divalent cations such as calcium ions and/or magnesium ions in a physiologically acceptable medium can be used to treat, inhibit or prevent inflammation of skin post medical, demertological, or cosmetic procedure such as chemical peeling, laser skin resurfacing, microdermabrasion, plasma energy treatment, radiofrequency treatment, hair or vein removal or lightening, skin treatment using light energy or photofacial, thereby treating, inhibiting or preventing post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation of the skin or other skin disorders.