Are you dehydrated if you push your thumb on your thigh and it turns white?

Answer 1

The test for dehydration is pinching the skin and letting it go. If it stays up, like a tent, you are likely dehydrated. The best testing spot is on the back of the arm above the wrist.

Pressing the skin tests for 2 things: return of color for how well blood flows into the area; and for "pitting edema" when the skin stays pressed in when there is swelling. Skin naturally "turns white" when pressed but returns to pink (or red if pressed too hard) within seconds of being released. "Pitting edema" is assessed on a scale of 1 to 3 and is based on how fast the skin spings back up in an area with obvious swelling. The edema test is typically done on the ankles, lower legs, and tops of feet since this is where most swelling occurs. True pitting edema only occurs in persons with kidney or heart ailments or impaired circulation to the lower extremities.