Why Do Only Our Hands and Feet Wrinkle When We Stay in Water?

According to many people, the cause of this wrinkle is “the skin absorbs water and as a result swells and bends” Although this may be the idea, a study conducted years ago shows that this is not the case.

Look at what’s underneath the crumpled hands and feet in the water in 30 minutes maximum. Besides It is also a harbinger of some diseases We are sure that you will look at your hands again when you hear that it might happen.

The skin’s response to being under water is actually the result of an evolutionary adaptation.

Wrinkled fingers are a result of our skin’s prolonged contact with water, but the reason for this reaction is It’s not just that water softens the skin. According to a study published in 1935, this situation nervous system It was discovered to be an active process controlled by

Even in a simple example such as finger amputation, if if nerve pathways are damaged Fingers under water do not wrinkle. Of course, don’t try this!

It’s part of our autonomic nervous system that governs the wrinkling of our fingers.

Our autonomic nervous system; It performs unconscious functions such as regulating body temperature, controlling heart rate and managing digestion. Research shows that the small muscles, especially those in our fingertips, are activated when underwater. These muscles too pulling on blood vessels under the skin It makes the skin look wrinkled.

Finger wrinkling actually has an evolutionary purpose. And that is “better grip”.

From a biological perspective, wrinkling our fingers probably provided us with certain advantages in the past. In another study conducted in 2011, wet and dry objects of different sizes/types were soaked in warm water for 30 minutes. Participants with dry and wrinkled fingers was handled by.

Subjects with wrinkled fingers were more likely to handle the object than those with dry ones. it was faster. However, there was no difference in the moving point.

Thanks to the study, wrinkled fingers can actually be used on wet surfaces, More effective at holding objects It was revealed that . Researchers’ first thought is that this may reduce the sensitivity of our fingertips or increase the risk of damage by catching on objects.

Another idea is to provide better grip on wet stones or other slippery surfaces. Thanks to this feature, our ancestors collected food from wet vegetation or streams more easily and with wrinkles in their toes. It had better footing in the rain.

Wrinkled fingers may also indicate some diseases.

There are other clues on the subject. For example, wrinkling, Less noticeable in salt water and it takes longer than fresh water. The possible reason is that in salt water, the salt content between the skin and the environment is low.

There are other mysteries related to the subject. women’s fingers, It takes longer to wrinkle than men. Wrinkling takes longer in some skin conditions such as psoriasis and Vitiligo. In patients with cystic fibrosis, wrinkles occur not only on the fingers but also on the palms, and they are excessive.

In patients suffering from type 2 diabetes and heart failure When hands enter water, there is a decrease in wrinkles. In addition, if one hand wrinkles less than the other, even if it stays in water for the same amount of time, this may be an early sign of Parkinson’s disease.

From evolutionary processes to diseases, there are those who agree with the studies on wrinkling fingers, and there are also those who oppose them. According to some, this is entirely an incidental physiological response.

What are your thoughts on this subject?

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