Department of Energy Argonne National Laboratory Office of Science NEWTON's Homepage NEWTON's Homepage
NEWTON, Ask A Scientist!
NEWTON Home Page NEWTON Teachers Visit Our Archives Ask A Question How To Ask A Question Question of the Week Our Expert Scientists Volunteer at NEWTON! Frequently Asked Questions Referencing NEWTON About NEWTON About Ask A Scientist Education At Argonne Why does your skin shrivel? 
Name: Timothy T Lenczycki
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: N/A
Question:
We have been talking about osmosis recently, and I'm sure this is connected, but I haven't been able to figure out the mechanism. Why does your skin shrivel in the bathtub?


Replies:
It's the other way around. The outer dead layer of your skin absorbs water in the tub and swells. Like clothes that are too big for you, it is then too big for the finger it covers, and folds into wrinkles. You'll note that the skin also becomes softer and more pliable, also indicating that it has absorbed water.

Christopher Grayce


Click here to return to the Biology Archives

NEWTON is an electronic community for Science, Math, and Computer Science K-12 Educators, sponsored and operated by Argonne National Laboratory's Educational Programs, Andrew Skipor, Ph.D., Head of Educational Programs.

For assistance with NEWTON contact a System Operator (help@newton.dep.anl.gov), or at Argonne's Educational Programs

NEWTON AND ASK A SCIENTIST
Educational Programs
Building 360
9700 S. Cass Ave.
Argonne, Illinois
60439-4845, USA
Update: June 2012
Weclome To Newton

Argonne National Laboratory