The average person sheds about 8 pounds of skin every year through a natural renewal process called desquamation.

The human skin is the body's largest organ and consists of three primary layers: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The outermost layer, the epidermis, is composed primarily of cells called keratinocytes. These cells originate at the base of the epidermis and gradually migrate toward the surface over approximately four weeks.As these cells move upward, they harden and eventually die in a process called keratinization. Once they reach the surface, they are shed through desquamation to make room for new cells. Research from the American Academy of Dermatology shows that humans lose between 30,000 and 40,000 skin cells every minute, totaling approximately 0.001 to 0.003 ounces of skin per hour.According to studies cited by Imperial College London, roughly 50% of household dust is composed of dead human skin cells. This shedding serves a vital biological function, helping remove pathogens and environmental toxins that adhere to the skin. Over an average 70-year lifespan, a person sheds approximately 560 pounds of skin—equivalent to the weight of a large grizzly bear.