I just learned that humans don’t have receptors to sense wetness. What is it that we feel when water touches our skin then?

Question

From my understanding, we’re able to feel the temperature, texture and pressure of water. And if we’re able to feel all that, what more else is there? What defines wetness and what should it feel like?

In: 1135

Answer 1

Obviously you can feel the pressure from when water hits your skin. But as far as just having wet skin, the majority of the sensation comes from temperature difference. Water is really good at absorbing heat from your body, but then it evaporates and takes the heat with it, leaving you cold. It’s why you sweat, and it’s called “evaporative cooling”.