---
title: "Exfoliation — Glossary | School of Dermatology"
url: https://schoolofdermatology.com/glossary/exfoliation
description: "Learn the difference between physical and chemical exfoliation, how often to exfoliate, and how to avoid over-exfoliating your skin."
lang: en
---

Glossary

# Exfoliation

eks-foh-lee-AY-shun

## Definition

Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin to reveal fresher, smoother skin beneath. There are two main methods: physical exfoliation, which uses abrasive textures (scrubs, brushes, cloths) to manually slough off dead cells, and chemical exfoliation, which uses acids (AHAs, BHAs) or enzymes to dissolve the bonds between dead cells. Chemical exfoliation is generally preferred by dermatologists because it provides more uniform results with less risk of irritation or micro-tears. Regular, appropriate exfoliation can improve skin texture, brightness, product absorption, and help prevent clogged pores. However, over-exfoliation is a common mistake that damages the skin barrier, causing redness, sensitivity, and breakouts. Most skin types benefit from exfoliating two to three times per week.

## Related Terms

Chemical Exfoliant: https://schoolofdermatology.com/glossary/chemical-exfoliant
AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid): https://schoolofdermatology.com/glossary/aha-alpha-hydroxy-acid
BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid): https://schoolofdermatology.com/glossary/bha-beta-hydroxy-acid
Desquamation: https://schoolofdermatology.com/glossary/desquamation

Was this definition helpful?

## Structured data

```json
[
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "DefinedTerm",
    "name": "Exfoliation",
    "description": "Exfoliation is the process of removing dead skin cells from the surface of the skin to reveal fresher, smoother skin beneath. There are two main methods: physical exfoliation, which uses abrasive textures (scrubs, brushes, cloths) to manually slough off dead cells, and chemical exfoliation, which uses acids (AHAs, BHAs) or enzymes to dissolve the bonds between dead cells. Chemical exfoliation is generally preferred by dermatologists because it provides more uniform results with less risk of irritation or micro-tears. Regular, appropriate exfoliation can improve skin texture, brightness, product absorption, and help prevent clogged pores. However, over-exfoliation is a common mistake that damages the skin barrier, causing redness, sensitivity, and breakouts. Most skin types benefit from exfoliating two to three times per week.",
    "url": "https://schoolofdermatology.com/glossary/exfoliation",
    "inDefinedTermSet": {
      "@type": "DefinedTermSet",
      "name": "School of Dermatology Skincare Glossary",
      "url": "https://schoolofdermatology.com/glossary"
    }
  },
  {
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
    "itemListElement": [
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 1,
        "name": "Home",
        "item": "https://schoolofdermatology.com"
      },
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 2,
        "name": "Glossary",
        "item": "https://schoolofdermatology.com/glossary"
      },
      {
        "@type": "ListItem",
        "position": 3,
        "name": "Exfoliation",
        "item": "https://schoolofdermatology.com/glossary/exfoliation"
      }
    ]
  }
]
```