Doughy skin; Poor skin turgor; Good skin turgor; Decreased skin turgor
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.
The health care provider will perform a physical exam and ask questions about your medical history, including:
Tests that may be performed:
Intravenous fluids may be necessary for severe dehydration. You may need medications to treat other conditions that affect skin turgor and elasticity.
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.