Clinical symptoms, signs and tests for identification of impending and current water-loss dehydration in older people.
Hooper L, Abdelhamid A, Attreed NJ, Campbell WW, Channell AM, Chassagne P, Culp KR, Fletcher SJ, Fortes MB, Fuller N, Gaspar PM, Gilbert DJ, Heathcote AC, Kafri MW, Kajii F, Lindner G, Mack GW, Mentes JC, Merlani P, Needham RA, Olde Rikkert MG, Perren A, Powers J, Ranson SC, Ritz P, Rowat AM, Sjöstrand F, Smith AC, Stookey JJ, Stotts NA, Thomas DR, Vivanti A, Wakefield BJ, Waldréus N, Walsh NP, Ward S, Potter JF, Hunter P. Hooper L, et al. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015 Apr 30;2015(4):CD009647. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD009647.pub2. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2015. PMID: 25924806 Free PMC article. Review.
- Test
- Causes
- Treatment
- Takeaway
What is skin turgor?
Skin turgor refers to the elasticity of your skin. When you pinch the skin on your arm, for example, it should spring back into place with a second or two. Having poor skin turgor means it takes longer for your skin to return to its usual position.
It’s often used as a way to check for dehydration. If you’re dehydrated, you may have poor skin turgor.
Share on Pinterest
They main way to test skin turgor is to lightly pinch your skin, usually on your arm or abdomen. If it takes longer than usual for the skin to bounce back, it could be a sign of dehydration. However, this method isn’t very precise.
With age, your skin loses elasticity, causing poor skin turgor. As a result, an older person’s skin may take 20 seconds to return to normal, even if they aren’t dehydrated. In addition, a 2015 review found that skin turgor wasn’t very effective on its own for detecting dehydration in people over 65.
While it’s not very precise, testing skin turgor is painless and noninvasive. This makes it a good option for checking children for signs of dehydration. However, a 2007 review concluded that it’s only moderately accurate at detecting hydration levels in children, so doctors will often use additional tests.
Poor skin turgor is caused by dehydration. In addition to not drinking enough water, several other things can cause dehydration, including:
Keep in mind that infants, children, and older adults are more likely to become dehydrated if they don’t drink enough fluids.
Most cases of poor skin turgor just require rehydration. Mild dehydration usually resolves after you drink some water. However, more severe cases may need intravenous fluids. Some children find it easier to tolerate nasogastric fluid therapy, which delivers fluids though a tube that goes through your nose.
If you’re dehydrated due to vomiting, your doctor might also prescribe anti-emetic medication, which can help with nausea and vomiting.
Skin turgor is a simple measurement of your skin’s elasticity. Doctors sometimes use it to test for signs of dehydration, especially in children. However, as you age, your skin turgor decreases, so it’s not a very precise tool for older adults.
Last medically reviewed on March 5, 2018
Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW. Skin, hair, and nails. In: Ball JW, Dains JE, Flynn JA, Solomon BS, Stewart RW, eds. Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination. 10th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2023:chap 9.
Greenbaum LA. Deficit therapy. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 70.
McGrath JL, Bachmann DJ. Vital signs measurement. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB, Thomsen TW, eds. Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 1.
Van Mater HA, Rabinovich CE. Scleroderma and Raynaud phenomenon. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, Shah SS, Tasker RC, Wilson KM, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 185.
Page 2
Updated by: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Page 3
Updated by: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Page 4
Blood is made up of two parts:
- Fluid (plasma or serum)
- Cells
Plasma is the fluid part of the blood in the bloodstream that contains substances such as glucose, electrolytes, proteins, and water. Serum is the fluid part that remains after the blood is allowed to clot in a test tube.
Cells in the blood include red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.
Blood helps move oxygen, nutrients, waste products, and other materials through the body. It helps control body temperature, fluid balance, and the body's acid-base balance.
Tests on blood or parts of blood may give your provider important clues about your health.