Can your skin absorb blood?
I was reading an article today about why your fingers “wrinkle” or “prune” up after getting out of the water, like a pool. Some of the responses were because your skin absorbed the water.
If it can absorb water, can it also absorb blood. Say a rabies infected…cat for example, didn’t bite me, but is dripping blood on me, would it absorb eventually if i just leave it there?
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12 Answers
No.
Blood is more than just water. Our skin is water permeable, because the water molecules are small enough to pass through the cell layers of the epidermis (look up OSMOSIS). Blood is composed of water… and red & white blood cells, platelets, etc. Those blood-components, which are far too big to pass through the skin cells, are composed of much more complex molecules than water. We’re talking hundreds of times larger. The only way outside blood could reach inside blood to create infection is if the skin is punctured and the bloods mingle.
Now, if the blood on the surface of your skin contains tiny enough molecules (viruses, for example), then that is no longer true. You could be infected by blood-skin contact. But the blood droplets in their entirety cannot be absorbed.
Edited to add: I realize my terminology might not be 100% correct, it’s been a while since I’ve been in class. :) But I hope the concept comes across ok.
Ahh I see, thank you so much for explaining this! :P
thanks a mucho!!!
I’ve never heard of viruses infecting people from skin contact alone. I’m pretty sure they need to be inhaled, ingested or otherwise inserted beyond the skin barrier to do their dirty work.
@fundevogel With rabies, if an animal bits you, and gives you a cut, mean it goes “into” you somehow, you will get infected.
My question was can blood be absorbed through the skin just like how water can, @3or4monsters said no because the blood cells are too big…
Just read the post above
I was referring to @3or4monsters comment:
Now, if the blood on the surface of your skin contains tiny enough molecules (viruses, for example), then that is no longer true. You could be infected by blood-skin contact.
@fundevogel Warts are caused by a virus transmitted from skin to skin contact. Don’t click on the link if you find close-ups of warts disgusting.
Different viruses have different…requirements?... for infection. Some viruses die the moment they hit oxygen, some are transmuted through air, others yet must be ingested, and others can exist on a cold surface away from human contact for a long time, and can be transmitted by touch alone. See herpes.
that’d be some 28 Days Later shit
@3or4monsters ah, I forgot about those. Thanks for pointing them out.
Aids is a virus, does that mean that you can get aid by someone’s blood coming in contact with your skin?
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