You lift your hand from the bath and there they are: the little ridges on your fingertips. It is such a familiar sight that it is easy to miss how interesting it is.
Your nervous system is involved
Water-induced fingertip wrinkling is an active process. The autonomic nervous system causes small blood vessels beneath the skin to narrow, helping the fingertip surface wrinkle. It is more than skin simply soaking up water. Read Newcastle University's explanation.
Could the wrinkles help with grip?
In a 2013 experiment, researchers compared how people handled wet objects with wrinkled and unwrinkled fingers. Participants moved wet marbles faster with wrinkled fingers, suggesting that improved grip with wet hands could be an interesting possibility of why this happens. It does not settle every question about why the response evolved. See the original Biology Letters paper.
A little curiosity for bath time
Sometimes the most interesting self-care reading starts with something you have seen a hundred times. There is no new product step to add here, just a small piece of science to remember next time you notice your fingertips.
Find more everyday bath and beauty inspiration at Finchberry.
