I'd noticed that my fingertips have felt quite smooth for a few years, and touch sensation isn't what it used to be. I've got some carpal tunnel going on, which was tested a long time ago and deemed not bad enough to do anything about...........so I'd put it down to that, and although irritating/annoying I hadn't really thought much about it.
My old mobile died and I got a new one.......and it won't register my fingerprint (the old one didn't have this capability). I got a magnifying glass out, looked at my fingertips.........and I can see why the phone doesn't like them. The prints on my left hand are marginally more visible than the right. I am right-handed.
My fingers are in and out of water in short bursts all day, but if I do any serious cleaning I wear gloves.
Does anybody know if fingerprints diminish with age?
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nellie237
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I had to have my fingerprints taken last year, and I haven't got any at all! lol There was a long discussion about it on here, at the time, because I thought it might be a hypo symptom. And, it seems it's quite commong, but I don't think any conclusions were reached as to why.
Mine are virtually non-existent too - I also have the same problem with my mobile phone. Plus we bought a safe for me to use at my church (I am the Registrar for my church) and we got a finger-print one too, but couldn't get it to accept any of my fingerprints! We thought the safe might be faulty, but then my husband tried, and had no problems at all. I just tell people that I should turn to a life of crime because they wouldn't catch me with fingerprints left at the scene!
Same for me, I’m 48, always had it, I believe the touchpads require a little electric charge from the skin, we’ve always joked I’m not electric enough. I have to put my phone code in about 100 times a day. My skin is quite dry and I too am in and out of water, use gloves a lot etc. I have tried re-setting the finger print access a few times, that helps. interestingly I can type fine on the phone keyboard though 🤷🏽♀️ I wonder if face recognition would be better or in my face puff phases from hypo would stop that working too 🦋💚🦋
When I changed from an old iPhone to a newer one - and therefore from fingertip to facial recognition - I was not at all keen on the idea.
However, the reality has been far better than I had expected. Especially now they have enhanced facial recognition to work even with a mask.
Nothing is perfect and I do wish they had both - one of the iPads has fingerprint recognition in the button on the side. But if I had to choose, it would be facial recognition.
(Apple's fingerprint and facial recognition are both extremely good. Facial recognition inspects depth of features and will not be fooled by, for example, a photo of the person. Not all manufacturers are that good.)
Mmmn, I went through the screens to sign up to the NHS about a year ago..........I got to the point where it wanted to scan my face and stopped. I find that a bit too invasive, although I expect it will be compulsory for all sorts of everyday things that we can't function without at some point.
I don't use my mobile very much....banking/gp/ordering coffee is about it.
As I understand, Apple's facial recognition doesn't send any information about your face anywhere. The whole process is done on your phone and stays there.
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Obviously, I'm not a security expert and can do no more than check what Apple say - then each of us has to decide for ourselves whether to believe and trust - or not.
It can be confusing in that some apps, such as my bank's one, can seem to use facial recognition. What they are actually doing is asking the iPhone "Is this the person who owns this phone?" - and the phone checks by re-doing facial recognition.
I used to work for an on-line retailer. They assured customers that they didn't pass on their details anywhere............but they did. I don't think there's ever been a 'stink' about it, though there may have been. I can't remember how large the customer base was (but pretty large) and they received approx £250k per 1/4 for the info...........so, I'm not particularly trusting.
I also have very smooth finger prints. But I first noticed this many years ago when I was still in my thirties and just after I had been diagnosed with thyroid issues. We had a finger print recognition system placed in our school entrance and we had to use it to go in and out. My right finger did register on one side and would let me out , but it wouldn't let me in. They tried everything, but the panel going into the school refused to see my finger prints because I had less than 25% that it could read. So I either had to ring the bell to get in or wait for other people to go in with.
Other people who were older than me had no problem, but I was told that it was not uncommon for people not to have sufficient finger prints for the devices to work.
I noticed that my mother also had very smooth fingers though she said they had been worn away with work. She didn't have thyroid issues but I wonder if it is hereditary.
I do have visible fingerprints, but, like other posters, have issues with using touchscreens of various types. My phone screen and fingerprint recognition have posed no problems so far, thank goodness, but the car media screen doesn't work for me. In the kitchen oven and microwave touch controls are not always responsive to my fingers, and my new induction hob is a nightmare, taking ages to turn on via a process of trying all fingers at different angles. Other family members think this is very strange!
Your induction hob must be extremely annoying. Interesting how it is different things for different people. My laptop has a touchscreen...........and it works wonderfully for me. 🤷♀️
Yes, it is intriguing to see how different we all are! Although trying to activate and regulate my often unresponsive induction hob is really frustrating, (similar to when I try to operate my daughter's oven), fortunately I have so far encountered no problems with my phone touchscreen or fingerprint recognition facility. All very strange!
Interesting question. Mine are smoother than they used to be and I do have problems with fingerprint technology. This has been discussed on the Sjogren's forums too where it is also quite common. I lost fine sensation in fingertips about 20 years ago, now diagnosed as Small Fibre Neuropathy (which can be caused by Sjogren's, but also has other causes). The testing that I had also picked up carpal tunnel in one wrist. Any chance you have SFN or Sjogren's?
Yes, I've probably got some SFM & carpal tunnel going on. I went to our local Urgent Care Centre a few months ago because I had an itchy wrist (underside) and that made me notice a small lump..........I had visions of something having bitten me and laying eggs. Turned out it's a small ganglion...........I felt like such a idiot. It was itchy/irritated for weeks. Still there, but calm now.
I have had virtually no fingerprint since I was in my teens.I have eventually been diagnosed with Type 2 Classic Like Ehlers Danlos Syndrome.
EDS is a condition that affects collagen production and all the connective tissues of the body , especially making skin , more fragile , smoother and over flexible.
EDS is also a cause for hypermobility. People with other hypermobility disorders as well as hEDS often also have symptoms of over stretchy , dry , fragile or overly smooth skin. People with EDS or Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders are more at risk of thyroid issues among other things as well.
I have discussed this fingerprint query with a number of friends whom have EDS or Hypermobility, we have all noticed our virtually non existent fingerprints and the problem with using tech because of it.
Fingerprints can diminish with age for similar reasons to those seen in EDS. Reduced efficiency in production of collagen after Menopause , or as part of old age in both sexes , occurs because of the reduction of progesterone and estrogen levels in our bloodstream. This affects the condition of skin in older people , it's also why your skin gets overstretchy , dry, wrinkly , fragile, and causes the folds at elbows and knees as your skin has less strength . Less collagen decreases how tight your skin is .
It could be possible , if you haven't already got knowledge that you have a Hypermobility or Connective Tissue condition that you do have one , and it is worth getting a Hypermobility assessment with your GP.
Especially as this can be a partial explanation for the origins of other illnesses including thyroid because these conditions effect how efficiently your body works and absorbs nutrients and medications , and how well your body produces or responds to enzymes , hormones, and natural chemical processes in the body .
I was told I had zombie fingers as I can never get the tills in supermarkets to work. On the rare occasion I have to use a self service till, I have to ask for help and then prove that my smashing the carrot button does not do anything for me.
I get odd looks, but that may not be because of my fingers...
I've noticed (as I expect you have too) that you don't need to press the 'start button' on most/if not all self-service tills........scanning the 1st item does the job. You can't get round the 'select payment method' with zombie fingers though. That would annoy the hell out of me.
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Just a few things I'm not sure of
Fingerprick tests reference ranges 
Shaking hands getting worse
Bed head! Just a little thing really.
Iron tests. Doctor vs private test
