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23h ago

Study Confirms Finger Wrinkle Patterns Are Consistent Across Water Immersions

New research identifies a vasoconstriction mechanism as the cause of water-induced wrinkles, with potential forensic applications.

This knowledge will change the way you look at your water-wrinkled fingers
When You Get Your Fingers Wet They Wrinkle In The Same Pattern Every Time

Overview

  • A study published in May 2025 demonstrates that finger wrinkle patterns from water immersion are reproducible across separate submersions.
  • The wrinkling process is driven by the autonomic nervous system, which constricts blood vessels in response to osmotic changes in sweat ducts.
  • This mechanism was first linked to nerve function in 1935, when patients with median nerve damage were observed to lack water-induced wrinkles.
  • The findings suggest practical uses in forensic science, such as identifying bodies after prolonged water exposure or enhancing fingerprinting techniques.
  • The research, inspired by a student's question, was conducted at Binghamton University and published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials.