Simple Skin Pinch Test Will Tell If You're Dehydrated

From a young age, the importance of drinking enough water is drilled into us. But how do you know you're getting enough H2O? Well, the video below demonstrates a simple trick that will do just that:

Skin turgor is the skin's elasticity - its ability to change shape and then return to normal.

But much more than being a neat little trick to while away the time when you're a bit bored, it can also give an indication as to how hydrated your body actually is.

In a video which was shared to TikTok, a user going by the name datmathteacher demonstrates what you need to do to check whether you're in need of a good old glug of water or not.

A voiceover says: "To see how dehydrated you are you have to squeeze your fingertip right her (pinching his middle finger), and if it goes back down, you're hydrated.

"If you squeeze it and it goes up like this, you're dehydrated."

TikTok

As well as the finger, the test is most often carried out on a person's lower arm or abdomen.

MedlinePlus explains the condition in more depth.

It says: "Skin turgor is a sign of fluid loss (dehydration). Diarrhea or vomiting can cause fluid loss. Infants and young children with these conditions can rapidly lose lot of fluid, if they do not take enough water.

"Fever speeds up this process.

"To check for skin turgor, the health care provider grasps the skin between two fingers so that it is tented up. Commonly on the lower arm or abdomen is checked.

"The skin is held for a few seconds then released.

"Skin with normal turgor snaps rapidly back to its normal position. Skin with poor turgor takes time to return to its normal position.

TikTok

"Lack of skin turgor occurs with moderate to severe fluid loss. Mild dehydration is when fluid loss equals 5 percent of body weight.

"Moderate dehydration is 10 percent loss and severe dehydration is 15 percent or more loss of body weight."

The accuracy of the test is also dependent on a person's age.

According to a study back in 2015, skin turgor was found not to be very effective on its own for detecting dehydration in people over 65.

As a result, a specialist will also carry out other tests to determine whether or not a patient is dehydrated.

Topics: Science, Water, Social Media, Health, TikTok

Dominic Smithers

Dominic graduated from the University of Leeds with a degree in French and History. Like you, Dom has often questioned how much use a second language has been. Well, after stints working at the Manchester Evening News, the Accrington Observer and the Macclesfield Express, along with never setting foot in France, he realised the answer is surprisingly little. But I guess, c'est la vie. Contact us at [email protected]

@SmithersDom