explainlikeimfive

ELI5 How do we feel the "wet" sensation?

It's summer, I've been in water quite a bit lately so Im curious, what is the process that the skin go through to tell whether its in contact with something wet? Does it mostly pick up on texture? Temperature? Pressure?

https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/1lw45oc/eli5_how_do_we_feel_the_wet_sensation/
Reddit

Discussion

Junior_M_W

we actually don't have wet receptors like some animals, we just feel the temperature and pressure like you said

American Physiological Society (APS). (2014, October 1). Why wet feels wet: Understanding the illusion of wetness. ScienceDaily. Retrieved June 2, 2025 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/10/141001133416.htm

6 hours ago
Esc777

“Moisture is the essence of wetness. And wetness is the essence of beauty.”

6 hours ago
ontheflooragainagain

But why male models?

6 hours ago
thoughtpolice42069

Seriously Derek? I just told you a moment ago.

6 hours ago
AreWeThereYetNo

Mer-MAN!!

6 hours ago
TryingToWriteIt

Lego Vader loves that flick

5 hours ago
Julariacle

Now I wonder what it would be like if we did have wet receptors

6 hours ago
MrVelocoraptor

Genie. My first wish is for wet receptors. You know where...

4 hours ago
Atharen_McDohl

It's mostly just temperature. Wetness correlates with coolness because moisture cools things due to evaporation, so basing your moisture detection on temperature isn't the worst way to go. It's pretty easy to confuse the system, but that usually won't be a big problem on a human scale.

6 hours ago
skinneyd

a human scale

Hey guys I found the reptilian

6 hours ago
Atharen_McDohl

A common error but I'm actually a dog using bark-to-text

6 hours ago
milanteriallu

Oh, well, in that case, good boy!

6 hours ago
Lyress

Wetness correlates with coolness because moisture cools things due to evaporation

Water also cools you down by conduction.

23 minutes ago
Reasonable_Air3580

Temperature. Because you get the exact same feeling whether you are bare handed or wearing very thin gloves

6 hours ago
weristjonsnow

Huh.... Now that you mention it...

4 hours ago
LudwigVanBaehoeven

As others said it’s mostly temperature!

It’s why it can be difficult to tell if your laundry is damp or just cold lol

5 hours ago
Devil_May_Kare

In addition to temperature, skin that's absorbed some water has a different texture than dry skin, and you can feel the altered texture the same way you feel any texture. That's why pure alcohol or acetone feels cold and liquid but not wet in the same way water does.

6 hours ago