Water immersion and EMLA cause similar digit skin wrinkling and vasoconstriction

Wilder-Smith, Einar; Chow, Adeline

doi:10.1016/s0026-2862(03)00020-7

Cited by 45 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…It has been observed that when vasoconstrictive cream, such as eutectic mixture of local anesthetic (EMLA), is applied to distal digits, the degree of skin wrinkling is similar to that resulting from water immersion (12). EMLA cream might absorb the sweat as soon as it forms at the pore.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Free flow of sweat due to loss of surface tension at sweat droplets causes water-induced skin wrinkling

Marasakatla¹,

Marasakatla²

2013

Preprint

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Water immersion skin wrinkling has long been used as a test for sympathetic nerve function. However, the cause of underlying mechanism remained elusive. In this article, we theoretically investigate a possible cause of the phenomenon by taking various properties of sweating into consideration. The pressure exerted by the surface tension of sweat droplets counterbalances the secretory pressure of sweat glands at the pore. When a hand is immersed in water, sweat droplets easily merge with the water, causing the pressure to drop at the pore. Our calculations, using earlier measurements of secretory pressure, show that the water pressure at the sweat pore will be less than the secretory pressure of sweat glands when the hand is immersed at a shallow depth. The resulting pressure imbalance enables the sweat to flow freely into the water. We believe that there will be an initial vasodilation to feed the excess generation of sweat. Sweat flow continues as long as there is blood flow to the hand. To prevent excessive loss of sweat from the body and to maintain homeostasis, sympathetic nerves trigger vasoconstriction to reduce the blood flow to the hand. The overlying skin wrinkles due to loss of volume under the skin. It is possible that denerved fingers remain in the vasodilation state during immersion due to a lack of sympathetic nerve function.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When aqueous cream is applied, it blocks the sweat pores on the skin, preventing the flow of sweat. Therefore, wrinkles would not appear on the skin when aqueous cream is applied (12).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Free flow of sweat due to loss of surface tension at sweat droplets causes water-induced skin wrinkling

Marasakatla¹,

Marasakatla²

2013

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Wilder-Smith and Chow [12] observed that when vasoconstrictive cream, like eutectic mixture of local anesthetic (EMLA), is applied to distal digits, the degree of skin wrinkling was similar to the water immersion. EMLA cream possibly absorbs the sweat as soon as it forms at the pore.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is important to note that aqueous cream blocks the sweat pores on the skin preventing the flow of sweat. Therefore, wrinkles wouldn't appear on skin when aqueous cream is applied [12].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Free Flow of Sweat due to Loss of Surface Tension at Sweat Droplet Causes Water-Induced Skin Wrinkling

Marasakatla¹,

Marasakatla²

2013

Preprint

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Water immersion skin wrinkling appears to be the result of breaking the balance between secretory pressure of sweat glands and the pressure exerted by the surface tension of sweat droplet at the pore. When a hand is immersed in water, sweat droplet easily merge within the water causing pressure to drop at the pore. The resulted imbalance in pressure enables the sweat to flow freely into the water. Flow of sweat continues as long as there is a blood flow to hand. To prevent the loss of sweat from the body and to maintain homeostasis, sympathetic nerves trigger the reduction of blood flow to hand causing vasoconstriction. The overlying skin wrinkles due to loss of volume under the skin.

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“…Because a convex topo graphy applies to response. Wilder-Smith [2004] provides evidence that the finger-wrinkling mechanism may be due to digit pulp vasoconstriction: wet-induced wrinkles are accompanied by vasoconstriction [Wilder-Smith and Chow, 2003a], and wrinkles are induced by vasoconstrictive agents [Wilder-Smith and Chow, 2003b;Wilder-Smith, 2004]. That the wet-wrinkling response is neurally mediated motivated us to ask whether wrinkles may serve an adaptive function in wet conditions.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Are Wet-Induced Wrinkled Fingers Primate Rain Treads?

Changizi¹,

Weber²,

Kotecha³

et al. 2011

Brain Behav Evol

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Wet fingers and toes eventually wrinkle, and this is commonly attributed by lay opinion to local osmotic reactions. However, nearly a century ago surgeons observed that no wrinkling occurs if a nerve to the finger has been cut. Here we provide evidence that, rather than being an accidental side effect of wetness, wet-induced wrinkles have been selected to enhance grip in wet conditions. We show that their morphology has the signature properties of drainage networks, enabling efficient removal of water from the gripped surface.

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Water immersion and EMLA cause similar digit skin wrinkling and vasoconstriction

Cited by 45 publications

References 19 publications

Free flow of sweat due to loss of surface tension at sweat droplets causes water-induced skin wrinkling

Free flow of sweat due to loss of surface tension at sweat droplets causes water-induced skin wrinkling

Free Flow of Sweat due to Loss of Surface Tension at Sweat Droplet Causes Water-Induced Skin Wrinkling

Are Wet-Induced Wrinkled Fingers Primate Rain Treads?

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