July 27, 2023, 9:01 am | Read time: 5 minutes
It sounds so simple: You pinch a fold of skin on the back of your hand and, after a brief moment of observation, know whether your body is sufficiently hydrated or if you urgently need a drink. But does it really work?
Keeping your body adequately hydrated is important, especially in the height of summer. Yet many people often “ignore” their thirst due to busyness or stress. Fortunately, the body sends many other signals that it urgently needs fluids. A quick and reliable method to determine if you should drink a glass of water is just what you need! The so-called skin turgor test (known as “Skin Turgor Test” in English) is frequently mentioned in this context. This skin test does indeed indicate dehydration–the problem is that by this point, the body is already dangerously low on water. A doctor discusses better methods to check the body’s hydration status.
Overview
Skin Turgor–What Is It?
Skin turgor refers to the elasticity of the skin, which is demonstrated by the skin’s resistance when pinched. The less fluid the skin contains, the less elastic the tissue is.
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Dehydrated or Not? How the Skin Test Works
The skin turgor test seems very simple, at least according to a TikTok video. You take your hand, place it in front of you, and gently pinch the skin over the middle knuckle with two fingertips. Hold for three seconds–then release. If the skin immediately returns to its previous state, it is sufficiently hydrated. However, if the skin fold remains in the raised or stretched position after releasing, it is dehydrated–and it’s high time for a big glass of water.
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Dehydrated? A Doctor’s Take on the Skin Pinch Test
“It’s true, the skin reacts relatively quickly to fluid deficiency with dryness,” confirms sports physician Dr. Michael Despeghel to FITBOOK. The skin test can indeed reliably indicate dehydration. However, it takes about 24 to 48 hours for the effect to become noticeable–and therein lies the problem, according to the expert: “If the skin loses elasticity to such an extent, the body is missing three to four liters of water.” This means: If the skin pinch test on the back of the hand is positive (the skin fold remains “standing” after release), the body is already in an alarm state, which could be dangerous. According to the National Library of Medicine in the U.S., a lack of skin turgor can be a sign of “moderate to severe fluid loss.” There, “moderate” is defined as 10 percent of body weight. The skin test indicates dehydration–but this could already lead to a medical emergency. In other words: It should never come to this!
Better Indicators of the Body’s Hydration Status
Even if you don’t feel thirsty, the body alerts you to dehydration long before, according to the expert. For example, through dark urine, dry lips, headaches, or difficulty concentrating. “Whenever any of these symptoms occur, drinking is always the first measure,” warns the doctor in conversation with FITBOOK. Waiting until the skin “stands” does no favors for your health. And another thing: From the age of twenty, the skin gradually loses elasticity. This means the skin fold test has little significance for older individuals.
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Simple Formula to Calculate Individual Fluid Needs
Instead of relying on overly simple tests for dehydration, prevention is better, according to Despeghel: “There are many figures floating around about how much water a person should drink per day. Sometimes it’s 1.5 or 2.5 liters. Forget that!” The doctor provides a mini-formula for calculating individual fluid needs (and it’s really quite simple!). “Forty milliliters per kilogram of body weight per day.” For example, a 70-kilogram person needs 2.8 liters of fluid daily. Someone weighing 80 kilograms requires 3.2 liters of water.
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Conclusion–Skin Turgor Test Not Useless, But There’s a Better Method
The dehydration test with skin pinching is not completely useless. “Clips like these refocus attention on the importance of drinking enough. They make people think about it. That’s actually a good thing,” says Despeghel to FITBOOK. The crux: The skin turgor test indicates dehydration that is already (too) advanced and could lead to a medical emergency. Therefore, it’s advisable to recognize even mild dehydration–by checking the color of your urine. If it’s dark yellow, you have a clear reason to drink a big glass of water. If it’s pale yellow, everything is fine.
Sources
- 1. National Library of Medicine: “Skin turgor” (accessed on 07/26/2023)