I have an azalea that is suffering from the loss of its own bark. It peels off in places in paper thin layers. Everything dies back beyond the point where the bark was dropped.

I do not know what type of azalea it is but it leaves are small (an inch in length) and it is an evergreen variety.

My experience with it is that the bark is very fragile. I feel as though the slightest scratch or rub on the bark might peel some of the think bark away and cause more die back.

Is this likely a disease or more likely damage from the winter freeze that is harming the bark on my tree? I live in Southeast Michigan.