Why Does Wet Skin Get So Cold?

Imagine you are wearing a coat full of tiny pockets. When water gets into those pockets and dries up, it steals heat from your body to turn into steam. This makes you feel chilly even if the air is warm.

Water loves to hold hands with other water drops. To break apart and fly away as invisible vapor, each drop needs extra energy. It takes this energy from your skin like a tax. Since water is very sticky, it requires a lot of effort (heat) to escape. This is why being wet feels much colder than just being humid. The water acts like a sponge that soaks up your warmth while it dries.