Milady's Esthetics Advanced Topics and Treatments Practice Test 2025 – Your All-in-One Guide to Mastering Esthetics!

Desquamation refers to the natural process in which dead skin cells are shed from the outermost layer of the skin, known as the epidermis. This process is essential for maintaining healthy skin, as it allows for the renewal of skin cells and helps to keep the skin surface smooth and clear.

During desquamation, enzymes break down the bonds that hold dead cells to the skin, allowing them to be naturally exfoliated. This biological process occurs continuously but can be influenced by various factors, including age and skin type.

While microneedling and dermaplaning also aim to improve the skin’s texture by exfoliating, they are specific procedures involving mechanical methods or instruments rather than a natural biological process. Hot stone therapy, on the other hand, is a treatment that involves using heated stones to relax muscles and does not pertain to skin cell removal. Thus, desquamation is the most accurate definition for the removal of dead skin cells from the epidermis.