Backyard Blogging.

Pruney fingers or water-aged fingers happen to all of us, but why? The answer to the question, “Why do wet fingers wrinkle?” is simple – traction.

The old answer told us that wrinkling is simply the result of our fingers and toes absorbing water after being in water.

The new answer suggests that wrinkled fingers provide drainage for water so as to ensure greater traction. According to Scientific American, laboratory tests confirmed the theory that wrinkly fingers improve our grip on wet or submerged objects, working to channel away the water like the rain treads in car tires.

The wrinkles may allow water to drain efficiently away from the fingers as they are pressed against an object, providing more surface area and a firmer grip.

Interestingly, wrinkled fingers probably helped our ancient ancestors gather food from wet vegetation or streams.The wrinkles in their toes might have helped them get a better footing in the rain.

Now that you know pruney, wrinkled fingers and toes are water treads, you won’t worry after your next hot tub soak or pool swim! It’s natures way of taking care of us!