Scientists have found the reason for the formation of "wrinkles" on fingers in water

Wrinkles on the fingers that appear after prolonged contact with water have long been of interest to scientists. Recent studies conducted by American scientists have finally shed light on this mysterious process associated with the circulatory system and physiological adaptations of the body.

Biomedical engineer Guy Herman set out to find out whether wrinkles always form the same way and what exactly causes them. During the experiment, three volunteers were invited to soak their fingers in water for 30 minutes, and then the researchers recorded the changes using special images. They showed that the patterns formed on wet fingers - loop-shaped peaks and valleys - were repeated in the participants even after re-soaking a day later.

“This indicates that the mechanism of wrinkle formation is not a random phenomenon, but a systemic physiological process,” the scientists conclude.

The researchers explain that when skin gets wet, water penetrates through open sweat ducts, causing a decrease in the salt concentration in the outer layer of skin. This change in chemical composition sends nerve signals to the brain, which activate the narrowing of blood vessels - the so-called vasoconstrictor reflex. As a result, the vessels contract, stretch and shift slightly, which leads to the formation of characteristic folds and wrinkles. Herman emphasizes that the blood vessels do not change their position significantly, but only slightly shift relative to each other, creating those very patterns.

Interestingly, these wrinkles are not a side effect or an accidental deformity of the skin. They serve an important function - they increase traction on wet surfaces, making it easier to walk on wet objects or grip slippery surfaces. When the skin becomes wet, these folds help prevent slipping and provide better traction, which is especially important for survival in the wild.

Scientists speculate that temporary texture may reduce sensitivity in the fingers or make them more vulnerable to injury. However, the exact reasons for this remain unknown, and researchers are continuing to study the mechanisms behind this phenomenon.

Previously, wrinkles were thought to be caused by swelling caused by fluid retention. However, a 2016 study found that the skin needs to swell by at least 20 percent for this to occur. It was also found that wrinkles did not develop in people with damaged nerves, indicating that the nervous system plays a major role in the process. Herman and his team tested this on one of their students who had a median nerve injury in his fingers and found that he did not develop wrinkles, supporting the neural regulation hypothesis.

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