in case you’ve ever spent too much time inside the pool, or
if you like to unwind at the end of a tough day with an hours-long soak inside
the tub, you’re probably familiar with the “pruney palms” phenomenon. trust it
or not, scientists have been analyzing this raisin-like effect for many years,
trying to parent out why your fingers (and now and again your feet) get so
wrinkly when moist.
One famous idea is that your pores and skin clearly becomes
waterlogged. according to the Library of Congress, the epidermis, or outer
layer of pores and skin, is made up of lifeless keratin cells that absorb
moisture while immersed in water for an prolonged period of time. This
absorption causes the cells to swell, but because they’re still linked to the
underlying tissue, which does no longer expand, the outer pores and skin has to
wrinkle to catch up on its larger surface vicinity. It’s a little like having a
king-size sheet for a queen-length bed: The extra material has nowhere to go,
so it bunches up unevenly on top.
however why are best your palms and toes affected — why
doesn’t your whole body wrinkle? Scientists say it’s because our palms and toes
have the thickest epidermis and therefore greater keratin cells to soak up
water. (Your nails also incorporate keratin, that's why they'll sense softer
once you do the dishes.)
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