Buzz
TikTok is a hub for uncovering fresh anxieties or revisiting old ones in new ways. The newest trend, the 'dehydration check,' involves pinching the skin on your knuckle. If it remains creased for a moment, this is (allegedly) your cue to drink some water.
Let’s be clear: there’s no widespread dehydration crisis waiting to catch us off guard. When your body requires hydration, it sends a signal called thirst. Incredible, isn’t it? No need for a dehydration test.
There are specific scenarios where checking for dehydration might be useful, particularly when caring for elderly individuals who may not sense thirst as effectively, or those who struggle to access water or communicate their needs. Medical studies on dehydration assessment typically focus on older adults, children, and individuals with health conditions—not generally healthy adults scrolling TikTok out of boredom.
TikTok users are getting it all wrong, anyway
Is the pinch-your-skin test actually valid? Partially. Healthcare providers refer to skin turgor as an indicator of hydration levels. (Turgor refers to firmness; healthy skin turgor means the skin snaps back, suggesting proper hydration.) For instance, a nurse might use this method to assess a patient’s hydration status.
However, this nursing guide clarifies that the skin turgor test is just one of several methods to evaluate hydration. It also highlights something TikTokers seem to overlook:
To check skin turgor, gently pinch a skin fold between your thumb and forefinger. The chosen area, such as below the collarbone, abdomen, sternum, or forearm, should feel elastic, move freely, and promptly return to its normal position after being released. If it doesn’t, dehydration might be a concern.
Additionally:
Avoid testing skin turgor on the back of the hand or areas where the skin appears thin or loose.
Feel free to pinch the skin on your forearm. Mine bounces back instantly, even though the skin on my knuckle takes a moment to recover after being pinched.
Poor skin turgor, observed when pinched skin on the forearm or abdomen remains tented, signals moderate to severe dehydration, defined as losing 10% or more of your body weight. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds and lose fifteen pounds of water, a proper skin turgor test would confirm dehydration. You’d also feel terrible, leaving no doubt about your hydration status.
There are additional limitations to the skin turgor test, which may not concern healthy TikTok users but are worth understanding. A study on skin turgor testing in children found it unreliable, and research on dehydration assessment in older adults highlights that skin turgor is less effective as skin elasticity declines with age.
