exfoliation

American  

[eks-foh-lee-ey-shuhn] / ɛksˌfoʊ liˈeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act, state, or process of exfoliating.

2. the state of being exfoliated.

3. something that is exfoliated or scaled off.

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exfoliation Scientific  

/ ĕks-fō′lē-ā′shən /

1. The process in which layers of tissue peel or are peeled off an organism, such as the distinctive ways in which bark peels off a tree in strips or flakes.

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Etymology

Origin of exfoliation

1670–80; New Latin exfoliātiōn- (stem of exfoliātiō ). See exfoliate, -ion

Explanation

Scrub the dead skin off your face and enjoy some exfoliation! It sounds gross but feels really good. Exfoliation is the process of buffing off the outer layer of skin cells or shedding parts of a surface. Exfoliation often refers to something people have done at a spa, but it’s not just for humans. A tree's exfoliation involves its bark being peeled off or leaves falling off. You could also call a snake shedding its entire scaly skin exfoliation (though it's officially known as ecdysis or shedding). When a plant loses its leaves, it's exfoliation — this is appropriate since exfoliation stems from the Latin exfoliare, "to strip of leaves."

Example Sentences

I am growing to love Jane Schoenbrun’s exfoliation of ’80s horror obsessions, especially for the movie’s nonjudgmental embrace: Let these movies be free in all their “problematic” badness and let them work on you.

From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026

We each received an enhancement: I enjoyed the dry exfoliation, while my wife opted for hot stones, one of her favorite add-ons.

From Salon • Jan. 13, 2026

In fact, countless sources praise yogurt for its skin care benefits, citing everything from lactic acid’s gentle exfoliation effects to its probiotic properties.

From Slate • Feb. 22, 2025

Despite this, both α-Al2O3 and γ-LiAlO2 layers demonstrated strong resistance to exfoliation.

From Science Daily • Nov. 25, 2024

In my own case there was a rapid exfoliation, as we call it, of the skin, a loss and renewal of the outer layer of the cuticle.

From Doctor and Patient by Mitchell, S. Weir (Silas Weir)