Page 25 - Cosmos Edition 3

WHY DOES OUR SKIN WRINKLE IN

WATER?

The reason behind this phenomenon has been known to scientists’ right from the 1930s.
Yet, even to date the reason is not common knowledge.

Scientists have noticed that this phenomenon does not occur if a person has suffered
nerve damage. This means that this phenomenon occurs as a result of nervous response.
So, what actually happens is that because of the high number of sweat glands in our toes
and fingers, the water easily absorbs into these glands. But the wrinkling doesn’t occur
due to the absorbed water. When the water enters these sweat glands it results in de-
crease of salt concentration causing the nerves in
and around the region to fire more often.

This leads to the constriction of the blood vessels
pushing the blood out of that region. This decrease
in the volume of blood causes the wrinkling. Not on-
ly the topical nerves present in the palm but also the
sympathetic nerves present near the wrist region are

responsible for this phenomenon. That means most
probably if you numb your palm and clip your wrist,
then wrinkling might not occur at all as it is an invol-
untary response by the body’s autonomic nervous system.

Scientists also suggest that this phenomenon might have an evolutionary function and
that the distinct pattern of wrinkling acts like a drainage network to improve grip on wet
and submerged objects. The scientific name for this phenomenon of shriveling is
‘VASSOCONSTRICTION’.

Joel Varghese

Class 8 G

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