feenicks
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It's a strange question, I know, but I'm interested. Why is it that when you go in the hot tub for too long, your skin gets wrinkled? It's mainly on the hands, but maybe it happens to other body parts, too.
I just completed a Physiology course in school, and I still don't know the answer to this question! Can some Physiology genius explain it to me? Thanks.
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| Natasa
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We all know that our skin is made up of two layers. The outer layer is epidermis and the lower level is dermis. The outer layer (epidermis) produces an oily substance called sebum. You can see this substance when you touch a window or mirror and your "oily" fingerprint is left there. One job sebum does is it keeps water out of your skin—a job that it does very well. However, after long periods of time in a swimming pool, shower, or bathtub, much of the sebum is washed off and your outer layer of skin starts to absorb water. As it absorbs water it swells, but since the epidermis is "tied" down to your dermis in certain spots(desmosomes), it expands more where it is not "tied" down and this causes your skin to wrinkle,whilst between the wrinkles you have a swelling from absorbed water). Once you get out of the pool or tub, the water that your skin absorbed will evaporate, your skin will return to its usual size, and you body will produce more sebum. Your fingers and toes will be back to normal in no time. And I agree,it is amaizing...
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| msyamp
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hey. quite ineresting question. it has very little to do with physiology though. it has some thnig to do with physics.
soaking of the skin causes water to be imbibed into the startum corneum ayer of the soles and palms and also where thick skin is there.
this stratum corneum now swells more than the underling strata of the epidermis. there by causing folds.
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| msyamp
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hey we answered the same time
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| sturge_weber
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good guys didnt know that
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| feenicks
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Wow, thanks a lot guys. And nice post Natasa, you explained it perfectly. That's really interesting.
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| mildus
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