# Skin Shriveling

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-shriveling/50703>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 18, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-shriveling/50703 "2001-01-18T16:27:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Delila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/58956e/32.png) [@Delila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Delila)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-shriveling/50703/1 "2001-01-18T16:27:43Z")

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The evidence seems so clear. If I add water to rice, it puffs up. If I use a paper towel to clean up a water spill, it absorbs, and a sponge, well everyone know that sponges expand as soon as the come close to water. So why in the world have I known since I was a toddler that if I stay in a tub too long my fingers and toes will shrivel and look like a bunch of prunes? And all the moisture lotion in the world won’t puff them back out?!?!!

Thanks

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**Author:** ![Arjuna34](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Arjuna34](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arjuna34)\
**Post date:** [January 18, 2001, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/skin-shriveling/50703/2 "2001-01-18T16:31:14Z")

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Welcome to the SDMB! Here’s [Cecil’s answer](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a2_317a.html)

Arjuna34