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[[Image:Lizard_shedding.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''Viviparous lizard (''Zootoca vivipara'') shedding its skin''' (Photo credit: Piet Spaans, WikiMedia Commons)]]

[[Image:Lizard_shedding.jpg|300px|thumb|right|'''Viviparous lizard (''Zootoca vivipara'') shedding its skin''' (© Piet Spaans, WikiMedia Commons)]]

 

Shedding is the normal process of skin renewal. The frequency depends upon the rapidity of growth, age, nutritional state, size and environmental factors. For most lizards, the skin sheds in patches, except for the alligator lizard which sheds in one piece.

Shedding is the normal process of skin renewal. The frequency depends upon the rapidity of growth, age, nutritional state, size and environmental factors. For most lizards, the skin sheds in patches, except for the alligator lizard which sheds in one piece.

To fasten the shed, it might be useful to bathe or spray the iguana with water. Indeed, in the wild, humidity in the air helps keep the old skin supple and therefore easier to peel off.

To fasten the shed, it might be useful to bathe or spray the iguana with water. Indeed, in the wild, humidity in the air helps keep the old skin supple and therefore easier to peel off.

A healthy iguana will shed every 4-6 weeks during 1-2 weeks but young iguanas (2 to 3 years) may shed more often. Occasionally, a new shed may start before the previous one has ended. Shedding will slow down or stop during colder weather. Absence of shedding which cannot be linked to seasonality may be an indicator of an underlying problem, possibly associated with an inadequate [[Lizard Diet|diet]], disease, stress, bacterial infections, [[Lizard Mites|parasite infestations]], or other medical conditions.

A healthy iguana will shed every 4-6 weeks during 1-2 weeks but young iguanas (2 to 3 years) may shed more often. Occasionally, a new shed may start before the previous one has ended. Shedding will slow down or stop during colder weather. Absence of shedding which cannot be linked to seasonality may be an indicator of an underlying problem, possibly associated with an inadequate [[Reptile Diet Composition|diet]], disease, stress, bacterial infections, [[Lizard Mites|parasite infestations]], or other medical conditions.

If the dead skin isn't shed, it may constrict the growth of the living tissue and result in [[Lizard Avascular Necrosis of Digits or Tail|avascular necrosis]].

If the dead skin isn't shed, it may constrict the growth of the living tissue and result in [[Lizard Avascular Necrosis of Digits or Tail|avascular necrosis]].