Failed skin pinch dehydration test--but I'm not dehydrated?

forkofpower
forkofpower Posts: 171 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
OK, so, during the past week(s), I've noticed my hands have gotten a lot of fine lines on the palms and fingersThe skin has also hardened and gotten drier, and sometimes my fingertips look pruney, even though they're not wet. I've been moisturizing, which has only helped a little.

Then, today, I did the dehydration pinch test and found that my fingers and palms--even the meaty part under the thumb--all fail. Like, when I pinch any skin, it takes a long time for the skin to revert back to normal--which is really scary! And my hands really do look dehydrated. But I track my water intake, so I know I'm drinking enough.

Do any of you know if this is a regular thing, or could this be a symptom of something? Could it be the cold? Thanks a lot.

Replies

  • Liftng4Lis
    Liftng4Lis Posts: 15,151 Member
    I would have my doctor check, just to be safe. When you say you're drinking enough, how much is that?
  • Lourdesong
    Lourdesong Posts: 1,492 Member
    Hands age, but the sudden change could be due to weather. Mine are more dry than usual as well.
  • ana3067
    ana3067 Posts: 5,623 Member
    You said you are tracking your water intake... maybe your water intake just isn't enough. E.g. 8 glasses of water usually is not enough.
  • highcarbveganzombie
    highcarbveganzombie Posts: 68 Member
    How much water are you actually drinking? I usually get in a minimum of three liters. 8 cups may not be enough for you.
  • Unknown
    Unknown
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  • crisb2
    crisb2 Posts: 329 Member
    Take your current weight and divide by two. Take that number and drink that many ounces of water a day. So if you weigh 130 pounds you should drink 65 ounces of water a day.

    Do your test again after a few days. I also read somewhere that if the water has minerals your body absorbs it better.
  • Skrib69
    Skrib69 Posts: 687 Member
    How old are you??? Sounds like natural aging to me! Skin is less elastic as you get older!
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    The bounce-back of skin does decline with age, but it's not a dramatic decrease in a short period of time.

    Wrinkly fingers when you weren't wet can be nothing (or at least nothing they can identify), but they can be something. There are different things it can be, too.

    My fingers used to prune up when I had a non-functioning thyroid. It was kind of creepy the first time, but I got used to it. Thyroids get a lot of attention around here due to their effect on weight, but there are so many other wacky symptoms of hyper- or hypothyroid.

    There is no way for any of us to know, of course. You should see your doctor.
  • forkofpower
    forkofpower Posts: 171 Member
    I'm a college student, so my skin shouldn't be aging that badly, haha. I drink 8 cups a day minimum--and usually more, because I eat a lot of fruits and soups. Actually, I've been drinking more water these past few weeks than I ever did in my life and I never had this problem before, so I don't think my water intake could be responsible.

    It's freaking me out though. I'll pinch a piece of my skin under the thumb and it'll stay raised for ages?! I've noticed that it gets worse in cold; could that be a factor? Do you think this is just a benign thing? I don't have good health care right now, so I can't just pop in to see a doctor unless I know it's serious.

    Thanks.
  • WalkingAlong
    WalkingAlong Posts: 4,926 Member
    Like you suggested, if it's colder where you are now, that does make skin get more dry.

    You can google for symptoms of dehydration, to see if you have others. I think headache is a common one.

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