Peeling refers to the process of removing the outer layer of something, usually skin or bark. Some synonyms for the word peeling include flaking, shedding, exfoliating, scaling, and desquamation. Flaking is often used to refer to the peeling of skin or paint, while shedding is commonly used for the removal of fur or feathers. Exfoliating typically refers to the peeling of dead skin cells from the face or body, while scaling is used to describe the shedding of fish skin or reptile scales. Desquamation is a medical term used to describe the natural shedding of the skin's outer layer.