Have you ever spent a few minutes in the bath or swimming pool and noticed that your fingertips suddenly look wrinkled?
It may seem as though your skin has simply absorbed a lot of water. For a long time, that was a common explanation. However, researchers now understand that water-related finger wrinkling involves an active response from the body rather than simple water absorption.
Your Nervous System Plays a Role
When your fingers remain underwater for several minutes, blood vessels beneath the skin can narrow. This process, known as vasoconstriction, reduces the volume of tissue beneath the outer layer of skin.
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