• Question: When we are in the water for a long time why do we get wrinkles on our fingers and feet?

    Asked by to Andrew, Elaine, Emma, Michael, Nancy on 24 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Nancy Carlisle

      Nancy Carlisle answered on 24 Jun 2014:

      Our cells are made up of a certain amount of water. The top layer of skin is actually dried out (kertinized) compared to the layers underneath. When we are in water for a long time, the cells start to absorb the water, and in so doing they get bigger. As all the cells get bigger, your skin generally gets wrinkled to accomodate the larger area of the cells. You notice this most where you have the thickest layers of the top layer of skin (your hands and feet).

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