[Water uptake of dermatoglyphic skin (author's transl)]

After modification of the usual histologic test method concerning water uptake of dermatoglyphic skin our experiences with washerwomen's hands have to be corrected. The singular wrinkle of washerwomen's hands is the effect of the sum of subepidermal water input. In addition, probably a vasomotoric effect is important to the wrinkling intravitally and early postmortally. After some time of submersion in water many disperse subepidermal water-filled chambers were seen postmortally. The ducts of lost of sweat glands were torn below the epidermal basal membrane. In vivo there will be a balance between uptake, resorption by the hemodynamic flux, and layer resistance. It is mentioned that the width of the epidermis after water penetration takes the minimum part of the wrinkles of washerwomen's hands. There was no hint as to the influence of decay or contraction of elastic and collagen fibers.