Question

Trivial Question:
Is it true that when you prune after too long in water, it is not you getting too wet and water leaving your body by osmosis but in fact a nerve response in order to gain traction on fingers and toes?

Answer 1

No, it's caused by the lack of oils in the skin. It's not due to nerve response.

Answer 2

Neither. It is the outer layer of skin absorbing water at a faster rate than the remaining layers. Thus the uneven texture until the water is absorbed into the body or evaporates into the air.

Answer 3

How come it is limited to skin on the palms and soles, is the skin cell complexion on other areas so different that this structural oddity does not occur?

Answer 4

Given enough time, this effect will occur everywhere. Dead bodies in water show a similar pattern. You usually don't see it elsewhere because the skin on the rest of your body tends to be more elastic; particularly skin covering large muscles.

Answer 5

Excellent, thank you :)