Staying in water for extended periods of time can have various effects on the skin, ranging from harmless pruning to more severe damage depending on the length of time spent immersed. While the outer layer of skin becoming waterlogged and peeling or temporarily “falling off” after very long soaks is possible, this takes extreme conditions.
What happens to skin after prolonged water exposure?
When skin is immersed in water for more than about 10-20 minutes, the outer layer known as the stratum corneum becomes saturated. This causes the individual cells to swell and the layer to become inflexible and temporarily thickened. The puckering and pruning effect this causes, especially on the palms, fingers, and soles of the feet, is a normal protective adaptation.
The pruning causes improved grip on wet surfaces and increases tactile sensation, allowing improved dexterity in wet conditions. After leaving the water, the skin quickly returns to normal as the moisture evaporates. Soaking for even up to several hours at a time will not cause the skin to peel off or have any permanent damaging effects in otherwise healthy individuals.
Extreme long-term immersion
In very unusual circumstances, such as continuously staying immersed in water for multiple days, the outer layer of skin would begin to break down. Autolysis, or self-digestion of the skin tissue, would occur as prolonged immersion causes the protective barrier function of the stratum corneum to break down. This allows moisture to be lost from lower skin layers and exposes the skin to contaminants.
With extremely prolonged immersion of perhaps a week or longer, the outer layer of skin would begin sloughing off in large shreds or sheets. Underlying skin layers would become damaged and inflamed. This severe waterlogging and breakdown of the stratum corneum is known medically as aquagenic wrinkling of the palms.
Other water-related skin damage
While staying immersed for 24-48 hours or more may start to cause the outer skin layer to detach, other water-related conditions can damage the skin over shorter periods if additional factors are present:
- Drying – Staying wet without reapplying water, as when wearing wet clothes, can cause chafing as the skin dehydrates.
- Chemical exposure – Soaking in chemically treated water like chlorinated pools can irritate the skin over time.
- Temperature extremes – Very hot water can burn skin, while cold water can cause hypothermia.
- Infection – Stagnant, dirty water may contain bacteria that can enter damaged skin and cause infection.
Factors like age, health conditions, and skin sensitivities also play a role in how well the skin can withstand prolonged water exposure. The very young, elderly, or those with skin disorders may experience damage after shorter periods of immersion.
How long can the average person stay immersed before risks occur?
For most healthy adults, remaining immersed up to 6-8 hours is unlikely to cause any significant or lasting damage. Beyond this time frame, the risk of general skin irritation and breakdown steadily increases. By 24-48 hours, more severe maceration and peeling of the outer skin layers is likely to occur.
With ideal conditions such as comfortable water temperatures and clean water, staying immersed for up to several days is physiologically possible if sufficient hydration is maintained. However, damage to the skin would become inevitable without intermittent drying.
Typical recommendations for continuous immersion
| Duration | Expected Effects on Skin |
|---|---|
| 10-20 minutes | Pruning starts, no real damage |
| 1-2 hours | Increased pruning, beginning of minor irritation possible |
| 4-6 hours | Pruning peaks, irritation more likely but still mild |
| 8-12 hours | Pruning fading, moderate irritation likely |
| 24+ hours | Maceration and peeling, severe irritation |
Again, these are general guidelines for healthy adults. Those with medical conditions affecting the skin or circulation should avoid prolonged immersion. Using appropriate protection such as wetsuits, periodically drying off, and moisturizing after exposure can help minimize any detrimental effects.
Tips for minimizing skin damage during prolonged water exposure
If you plan to spend an extended period in water, here are some steps to help prevent skin issues:
Limit continuous immersion times
Take regular breaks where you get out of the water and let your skin dry off before re-submerging. For most people, limiting continuous immersion to under 8-12 hours is recommended. Those with preexisting medical conditions may need more frequent breaks.
Use protective clothing/gear
Wearing appropriate wet suits, water shoes, gloves, etc. can help shield prolonged exposure and friction. Look for close-fitting garments that do not hold water directly against the skin.
Shower after soaking
Rinse off any lingering irritants and bacteria by taking a freshwater shower shortly after leaving the water. Avoid using harsh soaps immediately, as skin may be sensitive.
Moisturize
Apply gentle moisturizing lotions or creams within a few hours after water exposure. This can aid recovery and restore moisture to any dehydrated skin areas.
Watch for infection
See a doctor promptly if you notice signs of skin infection after prolonged water exposure such as redness, swelling, odor, oozing, or fever.
Special cases of prolonged water exposure
Scuba diving
With proper equipment, certified divers can safely remain submerged for many consecutive hours. Standard dives typically last 30-90 minutes, although divers may repeat dives with appropriate decompression breaks. Using suits that maintain skin warmth and buoyancy control minimizes damage from water exposure during long dives.
Competitive swimming
Elite swimmers in training may log 4-6 hours in the pool daily. This long-term exposure can damage skin and hair over time. Swimmers should rinse off quickly after exiting the pool, moisturize frequently, and use mild cleansers. Pre-soaking hands and feet can reduce pruning effects during intensive training.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy uses water immersion to treat conditions or provide relaxation. Sessions typically last 30-90 minutes and are supervised for safety. Water temperature is controlled and patients are monitored for any adverse effects. Mild skin wrinkling is common but reversed quickly upon exiting the bath. For medical treatment, up to 3-4 hours in the bath may be used.
Water survival
In rare emergencies, people have survived seemingly impossible stretches floating at sea or shipwrecked. In the open ocean, survival past 24-48 hours requires finding ways to get partially out of the water to dry off periodically. Even elite Navy SEALs training for water survival aim to limit constant submersion to under 8-12 hours by floating on their backs.
Conclusion
While human skin is remarkably adaptable, staying immersed for too long can overwhelm its protective properties. Most healthy people can tolerate continuous soaking for 8-12 hours before irritation or damage sets in. Extreme immersion of multiple days may eventually cause the outer skin layer to detach in shreds, requiring medical treatment for recovery. Using protective gear, taking periodic breaks, and moisturizing after water exposure can allow for longer immersion with minimal detriment to skin health.