Question

All > Science

Johnnyboy7781: 1 year ago

Why do fingers and toes "prune" when immersed in water

I've always wondered why!

Answer This Question

Report as

Answer 1

JeffM: 1 year ago

Our fingers shrivel "prune" up in water when your skin is in contact with water. When the oil in your skin is gone, the water comes into contact with the dead keratin cells, absorbing the water then cause the skin to swell up.

Helpful (10) Fun Thanks for voting Comments (3)

Report as

Johnnyboy7781: 1 year ago

Thank you, I've just always wondered why ever since I was a kid :)

Report as

chevey: 1 year ago

Now i know thanks Jeff, my dad all ways told me i was half raisin when i was a kid.

Report as

dgibbs2107: 1 year ago

myn to

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 2

Greengirl541: 1 year ago via Android

It has to do with how hydrated you are. If you are well hydrated your skin won't prune.

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (2)

Report as

sassybrat12: 1 year ago

hey what is 50*1250152 equal i cant find my calculater?!?!?!? lol

Report as

sassybrat12: 1 year ago

whats up

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 3

herecomesthesun12: 1 year ago | Last edited at 2:59PM on 10/4/2011

Osmosis

Helpful (2) Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 4

kratos33: 1 year ago

When our fingers and toes are exposed to water for a short time they will wrinkle or prune up

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 5

Kaven5500: 1 year ago

Your skin cells shrink in water

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (2)

Report as

hollygirl549: 1 year ago

does that mean my mom will lose her extra skin?

Report as

Kaven5500: 11 months ago

no

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 6

KylePoe: 1 year ago

Because when they go in water they stretch and then when they get out the try to go back together and it kind of epiclyFails... haha

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (1)

Report as

hollygirl549: 1 year ago

lol

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 7

dgibbs2107: 1 year ago | Last edited at 1:28PM on 10/5/2011

your fingers & toes absorb water

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 8

walterhipkins: 1 year ago

Your cells swell and overlap.

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 9

tjl: 1 year ago

When hands are soaked in water, the keratin absorbs it and swells. The inside of the fingers, however, does not swell. As a result, there is relatively too much stratum corneum and it wrinkles, just like a gathered skirt. This bunching up occurs on fingers and toes because the epidermis is much thicker on the hands and feet than elsewhere on the body. (The hair and nails, which contain different types of keratin, also absorb some water. This is why the nails get softer after bathing or doing the dishes.)

Helpful (2) Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 10

maggz360: 1 year ago | Last edited at 3:32PM on 10/5/2011

It'll happen less when you are more hydrated. I don't know "why" though.

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (1)

Report as

hollygirl549: 1 year ago

if you don't know why then dont answer the question, but yeah it is something like that.

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 11

hollygirl549: 1 year ago

because your fingers absorb the water and it wrinkles itself to get rid of the water.

Helpful (1) Fun Thanks for voting Comments (2)

Report as

basshunter: 1 year ago

ok that is tore

Report as

hollygirl549: 1 year ago

huh?

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 12

kingerni: 1 year ago

Cause they can.........(that's the answer to everything my friend)

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 13

franco_laudine: 1 year ago

It is because the cells in the fingers and toes are moving in a hypertonic way. The movement of water is going outward the cell which causes the toe or hand to shrink.

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 14

Robinlokhande: 1 year ago

because of atmospheric pressure

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 15

nedu: 1 year ago

because they are very fragile

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 16

brittbratt2015: 1 year ago

Its your body's reaction to attempt to keep itself waterproof.Even though you can't see it, your skin is covered with its own special oil called sebum (say: see-bum). Sebum is found on the outermost layer of skin. Sebum moistens, or lubricates (say: loo-bruh-kaytes), and protects your skin. It also makes your skin a bit waterproof. That's why water runs off your skin when you wash your hands, instead of soaking it in like a sponge would.

But staying in water for a long time washes away the sebum. Then, the water can penetrate the outer layer of your skin.

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 17

matt2844: 1 year ago

because god made them that way

Helpful (1) Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 18

iiamsunshine: 1 year ago

If you are in the bathtub, it's because they don't want to see you, if you are in the pool it is because they don't like your bathing suit and if it is when you are washing dishes, it's because they hate that job!

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 19

sassybrat12: 1 year ago

i have no clue

Helpful Fun Thanks for voting Comments (0)

Report as

Add a comment...

Answer 20