Skin turgor

Alternative Names

Home Care

A quick check of skin turgor by pinching the skin over the back of the hand, on the abdomen, or over the front of the chest under the collarbone is a good way to check for dehydration at home.

Mild dehydration will cause the skin to be slightly slow in its return to normal. To rehydrate, drink more fluids -- particularly water.

If turgor is severe, indicating moderate or severe dehydration, see your health care provider immediately.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

• Poor skin turgor occurs with vomiting, diarrhea, or fever.
• During a check of skin turgor the skin is very slow to return to normal, or the skin "tents" up. This can indicate dehydration that is severe enough to require immediate treatment.
• You have reduced skin turgor and are unable to increase your intake of fluids (for example, because of vomiting).

The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history, including:

• How long have you had symptoms?
• What other symptoms came before the change in skin turgor (vomiting, diarrhea, others)?
• What have you done to try to treat the condition?
  • Did it make it better?
  • Is it getting worse?
• What other symptoms do you have (such as dry lips, decreased urine output, and decreased tearing)?

Tests that may be performed:

• Blood chemistry (such as a chem-20)
• CBC
• Urinalysis

Intravenous fluids may be necessary for severe dehydration. You may need medications to treat other conditions that affect skin turgor and elasticity.

References

Greenbaum L. Deficit Therapy. In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF. Kliegman: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 54.

Gorgas DL. Vital Signs Measurement. In: Roberts JR, Hedges JR, Chanmugam AS, Chudnofsky CR. Roberts: Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2004: chap 1.