Related Topics
Every time you spend too much time in the water, do your wrinkles always follow the same pattern? New studies from Binghamton University, State University of New York, however, indicate that the response is yes.
A few years ago, a Binghamton research team released studies on why human skin wrinkles when remain in the water too long. Popular belief said the water swelled the skin and caused wrinkling fingers, although no studies had been done to support that.
The study indicated that after extended immersion, blood vessels under the skin really shrink, which causes the wrinkles.
In a publication just released in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials, the authors demonstrate that, indeed, the topographical patterns stay consistent during several immersions.
Blood vessels don’t move much in comparison to other blood vessels; they move about a little but remain somewhat static. That implies the folds should form similarly.
The researchers immersed each person’s fingertips in water for 30 minutes, imaged them, and then repeated the immersion at least 24 hours later under identical conditions. Comparing the pictures revealed identical patterns of elevated loops and ridges following both immersions.
They also came into an intriguing side discovery. The study found that those with median nerve injury in their fingers do not develop wrinkles. One subject has median nerve injury in his fingers. They put him to the test—Voilà! No wrinkles!
The researchers said that although it was enjoyable to solve a child’s question, the study might also have practical uses in forensics including fingerprinting at crime sites and body identification after extended water exposure.
Sources:
Rachel Laytin et al. (2025). On the repeatability of wrinkling topography patterns in the fingers of water immersed human skin, Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2025.106935
Your fingers wrinkle in the same pattern every time you’re in the water for too long, study shows. https://phys.org/news/2025-05-fingers-wrinkle-pattern-youre.html
AI Disclosure Statement:
The Chromoscience uses AI-assisted tools to support the preparation and editing of science articles. Content is reviewed by the editor for clarity and consistency with the cited research before publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the original scientific publications for complete findings, methods, and limitations.
