exfoliation /eksfō′lē·ā″shən/ [L, ex + folium, leaf] , peeling and sloughing off of tissue cells. This is a normal process that may be exaggerated in certain skin diseases or after a severe sunburn or may be be done deliberately, such as with microdermabrasion. See also desquamation, exfoliative dermatitis. −exfoliative, adj.
