Desquamation is the natural process of shedding old skin cells as new ones develop, but it can also be a symptom of disease or injury. Chronic skin conditions and sunburn can cause faster shedding, while infectious diseases and radiation exposure can lead to painful peeling. Creams and medications can manage conditions involving rapid skin cell production. The process also occurs internally, allowing the body to replace old cells with new ones.
Desquamation is the loss of the upper layers of tissue, most classically the skin, although structures within the body also lose cells in their upper layers as new cells develop underneath. This is a natural process, used by the body to provide a mechanism for shedding old cells as new cells develop. It can also be associated with the development of disease, where skin loss may be a symptom of an underlying medical problem. People recovering from injuries to the upper layers of tissue, such as skin rashes, also experience peeling.
This word comes from a Latin root used to indicate the removal of scales from fish. Healthy individuals experience this process every day as the dead skin cells that make up the top layer of skin are shed. Chronic skin conditions such as eczema and dry skin are associated with flaking and shedding of skin cells at a faster than normal rate. Another common cause of this phenomenon is sunburn, in which the top layers of skin peel off as the skin heals and new cells grow under the damaged tissue.
Some infectious diseases such as staph infections can also lead to peeling of the upper layers of the skin, as can radiation exposure. In some cases, the peeling can be painful, as it can extend to several layers, and removing the layers of skin can hurt. It is also potentially unsightly when the top skin peels off in sheets and can leave patients with a layer of tender new skin that is too delicate to expose, causing discomfort.
People with conditions that involve rapid production of new skin cells and increased flaking can use a variety of tactics to manage their condition, including applying creams and lotions and taking medications designed to suppress the production mobile phone. If sensitive skin is present, creams can keep the skin moist and supple and can reduce itching and irritation. Chronic skin conditions may not be curable, but they can be managed with careful medical care to keep the patient as comfortable as possible and to reduce the severity of the condition.
Within the body, epithelial cells that line structures such as the bladder are continuously shed over time as new cells develop. This process allows the body to discard old cells with lost functionality to replace them with new cells, keeping the upper layers of internal tissues flexible and functional. The increased rate of peeling can be indicative of problems such as infection or inflammation.
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