Water immersion skin wrinkling: modulation by common participant characteristics

Water immersion skin wrinkling (WISW) has been used as a noninvasive test of a limb's sympathetic function. To date, research has not sufficiently explored this phenomenon. The primary aim of this study was to determine the impact of common individual characteristics on WISW.

Demographic information was collected on 39 apparently healthy adults varying widely in age. Each participant submerged one hand in 40°C water for 30 minutes. The degree of WISW was assessed using computer software. Because WISW is often associated with peripheral edema and facial wrinkling, we also evaluated facial wrinkling and hand volume expansion following prolonged immersion.

Sex, body mass index, and physical activity habits were not correlated with any of the WISW measures. Age was a predictor of the WISW score (β = -0.38, P = 0.02, R²  = 0.15). WISW score was significantly lower for participants who reported relevant medical history (cardiovascular, pulmonary, or psychological) than those with no such report. WISW was not associated with face wrinkling or hand volume expansion.

We concluded that WISW was reduced in older age and those with medical history but was not affected by physical activity. These results are consistent with the prevalent notion that WISW may be a sympathetically mediated phenomenon.