As summer sets in and swimming season kicks off, you might notice a familiar sight: your fingertips turning wrinkly after a long soak in water. But what may seem like a simple quirk of nature is actually a complex biological response — and it’s more consistent and significant than you might think.

It’s Not Just Skin Swelling

For a long time, people assumed that "pruney" fingers were just a result of water making the skin swell. But Guy German, a biomedical engineering professor at Binghamton University (State University of New York), has found otherwise. According to German, the wrinkling is caused by blood vessels under the skin constricting, not the skin absorbing water.

This reaction is part of a natural nervous system response and has evolved to possibly improve grip in wet conditions — think of it as nature’s own anti-slip mechanism.

Do the Wrinkles Always Look the Same?

That’s the question that sparked the latest round of research. German had already explored the phenomenon back in 2023. But when a student asked whether these wrinkles always formed the same way, he realized no one had ever looked into that specific detail.

This curiosity led to a new study published in the Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. Working with graduate student Rachel Laytin, German set out to test whether wrinkle patterns were repeatable.

Participants soaked their fingers in water for 30 minutes, had their wrinkles photographed, and then repeated the experiment at least a day later. The results showed that the patterns — loops, ridges, and furrows — consistently reappeared in the same way.

Why the Patterns Stay the Same

The explanation lies beneath the skin. “Blood vessels don’t change their position much,” said German. “They move a bit, but in relation to other vessels, they’re mostly static. That means the wrinkles should form the same way — and they do.”

In other words, the architecture of your vascular system shapes your wrinkle pattern like a biological blueprint.

What Happens When Nerves Are Damaged?

One unexpected discovery was that some people don’t wrinkle at all — specifically, those with median nerve damage in their hands. In one case, a student volunteered that they had such damage. When tested, their fingers showed no wrinkling after soaking.

This lack of response confirms that the wrinkling process is neurologically driven — not just a passive reaction to water.

Implications for Forensics

The research has potential applications beyond the pool. Forensic investigators, for example, could use wrinkle patterns to help identify bodies that have been exposed to water or assist in fingerprint analysis where traditional methods might fail.

German, whose father was a police officer, says the work feels personally relevant. “Biometrics and fingerprints are built into my brain,” he shared. “This stuff is just fascinating.”

With so much still unknown about skin and its responses, German and his team are excited to keep digging into the science. “I feel like a kid in a candy store,” he said. “There’s so much here that I don’t know — and that’s the fun part.”

We have all been there, done that. Reaching out to Google every time we face slight discomfort sneezing, convinced that we have some serious disease. While not every ache or tickle means an emergency, some symptoms really do need urgent attention. According to ER doctors, there are a handful of red flags you should never brush off.

Here are six warning signs you should pay attention to immediately.

1. Chest Pain That Feels Super Heavy

We have all had heartburn after a cheesy pizza, but chest pain is not something to gamble with. Reports say crushing, pressure-like chest pain that radiates to your arm, jaw, or back is a huge red flag for a heart attack. Sometimes it comes with sweating, shortness of breath, or nausea. Even if you are young and otherwise healthy, do not assume it is just gas or stress. When in doubt, get checked out; it is always better to be told it is heartburn than to ignore a heart attack.

2. The Worst Headache of Your Life

Sure, headaches are common, but if you suddenly feel like someone is hammering your skull with no mercy, do not tough it out. According to the reports, a sudden, severe headache, especially if it is different from your usual migraines, could signal a brain aneurysm, bleeding, or other neurological emergency. Pair that with vision changes, weakness, or slurred speech, and you should be calling for help immediately.

3. Unexplained Shortness of Breath

Running up the stairs and wheezing like a deflating balloon is one thing. But struggling to breathe at rest or without any exertion? That is a whole different story. Experts say unexplained shortness of breath could point to conditions like blood clots in the lungs, asthma attacks, pneumonia, or even heart problems. If your chest feels tight, you are gasping for air, or your lips are turning blue, it is not something to “walk off”.

4. Sudden Weakness or Numbness in One Side of the Body

If you are holding something, and suddenly it slips right out of your hand because your arm has no feeling. Or half your face feels like it is melting. These are classic stroke symptoms, and ER doctors stress that time is everything. The quicker you get treatment, the higher the chances of recovery. Remember the acronym FAST: Face drooping, Arm weakness, Speech difficulty, Time to call emergency services. Do not wait it out hoping it will pass.

5. Uncontrolled Bleeding

A paper cut? No big deal. A deep cut that refuses to stop bleeding after 10 minutes of firm pressure? That is a medical emergency. According to the reports, that uncontrolled bleeding can mean a damaged artery or an underlying clotting disorder. If you are soaking through bandages or the blood will not stop, it is not something to ignore. Plus, losing too much blood too quickly can lead to shock and nobody wants to faint in their bathroom.

6. Severe Abdominal Pain That Comes Out of Nowhere

Stomach aches are often brushed off as bad food choices. But if you suddenly develop intense abdominal pain that does not go away, reports suggest it could be something much more serious, like appendicitis, gallstones, a perforated ulcer, or even an intestinal blockage. The kind of pain where you cannot stand up straight or move without wincing is not the “sleep it off” kind. Trust your gut, literally, and get checked.

Listen to Your Body’s Alarm Bells

The discourse surrounding vaccinations has been rampant in the past few years. Many people are questioning the validity of vaccines and why they need to have them. This becomes much more complicated when it involves children. Parents have expressed their concerns and whether their immune systems can handle vaccines. This is why we turn to recommendations by health organizations such as AAP and CDC, however, their new guidelines on the same are now clashing.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released new recommendations stating that all children ages 6 to 23 months should receive a COVID-19 vaccine. This guidance is part of the AAP's annual childhood immunization schedule and includes recommendations for COVID, flu, and RSV vaccines for those 18 and under. This advice from the AAP stands in contrast to recent guidance from federal health officials.

How Are These Different From Federal Guideline?

The AAP's recommendation comes after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would no longer recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for healthy children. The CDC has since updated its guidance to a "shared clinical decision-making" model, which leaves the choice to vaccinate up to parents and their doctors. This difference in opinion highlights a growing disagreement between federal health officials and medical organizations on vaccine policy.

ABC news reports that AAP's president, Dr. Susan J. Kressly, stated that children between 6 and 23 months old are at the highest risk for severe COVID-19. She emphasized that the vaccine can protect these young children, many of whom were not exposed to the virus during the pandemic and therefore have no natural immunity. The AAP aims to provide clear and confident guidance to families who rely on them for medical advice, especially in a time of widespread misinformation.

How Does This Impact Vaccine Coverage?

While the AAP provides its own recommendations, insurance companies often follow the guidance of the CDC's vaccine panel. If the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) does not recommend a vaccine, it could lead to families having to pay for the shots out-of-pocket. It could also mean the shots aren't covered by the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program, which provides free vaccines to eligible children. The AAP is in talks with insurance companies to ensure that vaccines remain accessible as a part of standard preventive care.

Has Vaccine Skepticism Affect People’s Health?

The world is seeing a worrying increase in diseases that were once rare because of vaccines. GAVI, vaccine alliance, explains that this is threatening decades of public health progress and putting millions of lives at risk. In places like the United States and Canada, vaccination rates are dropping, leading to a rise in cases of diseases like measles. This problem is largely driven by the spread of false information about vaccines.

The children in this study were born during or after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused major disruptions to routine medical care. To help fix this problem, doctors should check a child's vaccination history at every visit and strongly recommend the necessary shots. To increase vaccination rates and protect all children from preventable diseases, experts suggest:

• Making it easier to get vaccines by removing financial and access barriers.
• Fighting vaccine hesitancy and the spread of false information.
• Using tools like reminder systems and strong recommendations from doctors to encourage parents to get their children vaccinated.

As the temperature rises, the rise in tick-borne disease are also being reported. When you think about ticks, you probably think about Lyme disease or the general unease of finding one clinging to your skin.

However here’s an important fact: just because a certain tick species is found in your area doesn’t automatically mean it spreads a specific disease there. Disease transmission depends on several factors, from local ecology to host availability, not simply the presence of ticks.

Still, understanding which ticks are in your region helps you stay alert to potential health risks.

Below is a guide to the major tick species in the United States, what they look like, where they’re found, and the diseases they may carry.

American Dog Tick (Dermacentor variabilis, D. similis)

Where found:

As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American dog tick is common east of the Rocky Mountains and in some western pockets. A related species, D. similis, lives west of the Rockies.

What it transmits:

These ticks can spread tularemia and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF).

READ: First Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever Case Confirmed In Quebec

What to know:

Spring and summer are peak seasons for bites, with adult females being the ones most likely to latch onto humans.

Asian Longhorned Tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis)

Where found:

CDC notes that it was first detected in the U.S. in 2017. This invasive species has spread quickly. As of 2024, it has been reported in at least 19 states, including New York, Virginia, North Carolina, and Kentucky.

What it transmits:

In Asia, these ticks are known to spread pathogens that can make humans and animals seriously ill. In the U.S., their disease-spreading potential is still being studied. While they are less likely to bite humans compared with native ticks, they can carry bacteria that cause Rocky Mountain spotted fever, though this hasn’t been found naturally in U.S. populations yet.

What to know:

These ticks reproduce without mating, meaning a single female can produce thousands of offspring. They’ve been found on pets, livestock, wildlife, and even people, often appearing in large numbers in grassy or shrubby areas.

Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes scapularis)

Where found:

CDC notes that this is common across the eastern United States.

READ: Justin Timberlake Reveals Lyme Disease Diagnosis: Here’s What That Means For His Health

What it transmits:

This tick is one of the most medically important in the U.S., spreading multiple diseases, including:

• Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi and B. mayonii)
• Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum)
• Babesiosis (Babesia microti)
• Ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia muris eauclairensis)
• Powassan virus disease

What to know:

The risk of bites is highest in spring, summer, and fall, but adults can be active anytime winter temperatures rise above freezing. Nymphs and adult females are the main culprits when it comes to human bites.

Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus)

Where found:

It is truly a global traveler, this tick is found worldwide and throughout the U.S.

What it transmits:

In certain parts of the U.S., especially the Southwest and along the U.S.-Mexico border, it can spread Rocky Mountain spotted fever.

What to know:

Dogs are the preferred hosts at every stage of their life cycle, but they can also bite humans. Because of their close association with dogs, they often infest kennels, homes, and even veterinary clinics.

Gulf Coast Tick (Amblyomma maculatum)

Where found:

Primarily in the southeastern U.S., with isolated populations in other regions such as the Midwest and Southwest.

What it transmits:

The main disease linked to this tick is Rickettsia parkeri rickettsiosis, a type of spotted fever.

What to know:

Adults are most often involved in transmitting pathogens to humans.

Lone Star Tick (Amblyomma americanum)

Where found:

This aggressive biter is found widely in the Northeast, South, and Midwest.

What it transmits:

Lone star ticks are linked to several diseases and unusual health effects, including:

• Human ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia chaffeensis and E. ewingii)
• Tularemia
• Bourbon virus
• Heartland virus
• Alpha-gal syndrome (a surprising tick-related allergy to red meat)
• A rash sometimes called STARI (Southern Tick-Associated Rash Illness)

What to know:

Adult females can be recognized by a single white dot, or “lone star”, on their back. Their bites can cause skin irritation even without infection. Nymphs and females are most likely to bite humans.

Rocky Mountain Wood Tick (Dermacentor andersoni)

Where found:

Lives in the Rocky Mountain states and parts of southwestern Canada, mostly at elevations between 4,000 and 10,500 feet.

What it transmits:

Known carriers of Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Colorado tick fever, and tularemia.

What to know:

Adult ticks are the primary stage that transmit diseases to people.

Western Blacklegged Tick (Ixodes pacificus)

Where found:

It is found along the Pacific Coast, especially in northern California.

READ: Family Shares How A Lyme Disease Misdiagnosis Cost Their Son's Childhood

What it transmits:

This species can spread:

• Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi)
• Anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum)
• Hard tick relapsing fever (Borrelia miyamotoi)

READ MORE: Lyme Disease In US: How Worried Should You Be Of Ticks?

What to know:

Although all stages can bite humans, nymphs and adult females are most frequently reported on people.

Staying Tick-Smart

While different ticks pose different risks, the best prevention steps remain the same:

• Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or permethrin-treated clothing.
• Wear long sleeves and pants in grassy or wooded areas.
• Perform regular tick checks after outdoor activities.
• Check your pets, too, dogs and cats often bring ticks indoors.

Photos of ticks taken from CDC Website