Why does staying in water for long time cause wrinkles on fingers?

Have you ever wondered why soaking your fingers in water for a long time causes wrinkles? Actually, the nervous system is behind it.

The process of wrinkling the fingers after staying in water for a long time is called ‘aquatic wrinkling’ in English. Wrinkles were initially thought to be caused by water absorption in the skin, but recent studies have disproved this.

The nervous system is actually behind the process of wrinkling of fingers due to water. Submersion in water causes the nervous system to slightly alter the blood vessels in the upper layers of the skin. This change causes the skin to shrink and wrinkles to appear.
This reaction is believed to increase grip in wet environments and help objects handle better.

Furthermore, this process of wrinkling is under an autonomic nervous system. It does not occur in people who have sensory deficits in their fingers. However, this is a temporary and harmless reaction that returns to normal after the skin dries.