Skin turgor
Elasticity of skin
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The skin turgor (associated with capillary refilling[1]) is a term used to describe the ability of the skin to restore its shape after being deformed. Dehydration reduces the skin elasticity and causes lower skin turgor, one of the signs of dehydration in humans.[2]
The skin turgor test is conducted by pinching the skin on the patient's body, in a location such as the forearm or the back of the hand, and watching to see how quickly it returns to its normal position,[3] low turgor causes the skin to "tent".[2] The skin turgor test can be unreliable in patients who have reduced skin elasticity, such as the elderly.[3]
Skin turgor examination
Dehydration - low skin turgor
Severe dehydration resulted in a decreased skin turgor that produced the "Washer Woman's Hand" symptom
The test results are expressed as time it takes for the skin to return to the original shape.[4] Special tools to deflect the skin have been introduced to improve the accuracy of the skin turgor test.[4]
