Exfoliate vs Desquamate - What's the difference?

As verbs the difference between exfoliate and desquamate

is that exfoliate is to remove the leaves from a plant while desquamate is to shed or peel.

(Exfoliation)

(en-verb)

To remove the leaves from a plant.

To remove a layer of skin, as in cosmetic preparation.

(mineralogy) To split into scales, especially to become converted into scales as the result of heat or decomposition.

* exfoliant * foliate * foliation * exfoliating * exfoliation

(desquamat)

To shed or peel