exfoliated

Exfoliated is the past participle of exfoliate and is used in multiple disciplines to describe something that has been peeled away, shed, or separated into thin layers from a larger mass.

In geology, exfoliation describes a weathering process where slabs or sheets of rock peel away from a larger body, often due to unloading of overburden or diurnal temperature changes. The resulting features are called exfoliation joints or onion-skin weathering and are common in granitic rocks in arid settings.

In dermatology and cosmetics, exfoliation refers to the removal of dead skin cells from the stratum corneum. Products may be chemical (acids or enzymes) or mechanical (abrasive particles or tools). Exfoliated skin can look smoother, but excessive exfoliation can disrupt the skin barrier and cause irritation.

In materials science, exfoliated describes layered materials that have been separated into thin sheets. Exfoliated graphite or graphene is produced by peeling layers apart; exfoliated clays create high surface area composites. Exfoliation methods include chemical intercalation, thermal expansion, or mechanical delamination.