# Why is my skinned knee warmer than my other knee?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-skinned-knee-warmer-than-my-other-knee/274391>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [November 12, 2004, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-skinned-knee-warmer-than-my-other-knee/274391 "2004-11-12T15:39:21Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/aeb1de/32.png) [@Kel\_Varnsen\_Latex\_Division](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kel_Varnsen_Latex_Division)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2004, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-skinned-knee-warmer-than-my-other-knee/274391/1 "2004-11-12T15:39:21Z")

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I skinned my knee the last night and today if I touch my knees through my pants (jeans) the one that is skinned noticeably warmer. Is there a reason for this related to my injury? Or is it just a coincidence?

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**Author:** ![FlippyFly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FlippyFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlippyFly)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2004, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-skinned-knee-warmer-than-my-other-knee/274391/2 "2004-11-12T15:54:30Z")

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maybe because the blood is closer to the surface on the skinned knee? Less insulation from the outside world? Perhaps in order to fight off infection, you have a sort of localized fever, where the body has increased the temperature of that area (can it do that?)

All pure speculation. I really have no idea.

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**Author:** ![bouv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bc8723/32.png) [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2004, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-skinned-knee-warmer-than-my-other-knee/274391/3 "2004-11-12T16:00:16Z")

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When you injure yourself, the site of injury goes through a process called inflammation. Inflammation is characterized by four things:

Redness, swelling, heat, and pain. (rubor, tumor, calor, et dolor.)

The heat is a result more boold being sent to the site of injury, and even a little from all the extra work a lot of the cells around that area are doing. Be glad it’s warm, that means it’s healing!

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**Author:** ![Jurph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/50afbb/32.png) [@Jurph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jurph)\
**Post date:** [November 12, 2004, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-my-skinned-knee-warmer-than-my-other-knee/274391/4 "2004-11-12T16:00:31Z")

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WAG: all physical processes create waste heat. Your body is repairing your knee, which means that locally, there are _many_ more individual actions and reactions going on inside and between your knee’s various cells, vessels, and tissues.