Editing Fingerprint (section)

=== Fingerprinting on cadavers ===
The human skin itself, which is a regenerating organ until death, and environmental factors such as lotions and cosmetics, pose challenges when fingerprinting a human. Following the death of a human, the skin dries and cools. Fingerprints of dead humans may be obtained during an [[autopsy]].<ref>{{Cite book|title=Fundamentals of Fingerprint Analysis|author=Hillary Moses Daluz|publisher=CRC Press|year=2014|isbn=978-1466597983|page=186}}</ref>

The collection of fingerprints off of a cadaver can be done in varying ways and depends on the condition of the skin. In the case of cadaver in the later stages of decomposition with dried skin, analysts will boil the skin to recondition/rehydrate it, allowing for moisture to flow back into the skin and resulting in detail friction ridges.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Uhle |first=Aaron |date=2007 |title=The Boiling Technique: A Method for Obtaining Quality Postmortem Impressions from Deteriorating Friction Ridge Skin |url=https://www.proquest.com/openview/3d04d25e8751c0baed0d0ea0f10e66e2/1?cbl=29772&pq-origsite=gscholar&parentSessionId=qZqbYRdGwMX73nk4eM4%2BWZo3wm5poStY4vVZVNqWg7k%3D |journal=Journal of Forensic Identification |volume=57 |issue=3 |pages=358}}</ref> Another method that has been used in brushing a powder, such as baby powder over the tips of the fingers.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal |last1=Morgan |first1=Lee O. |last2=Johnson |first2=Marty |last3=Cornelison |first3=Jered |last4=Isaac |first4=Carolyn |last5=deJong |first5=Joyce |last6=Prahlow |first6=Joseph A. |date=March 2019 |title=Two Novel Methods for Enhancing Postmortem Fingerprint Recovery from Mummified Remains |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1556-4029.13876 |journal=Journal of Forensic Sciences |language=en |volume=64 |issue=2 |pages=602–606 |doi=10.1111/1556-4029.13876 |pmid=30025161 |s2cid=51702139 |issn=0022-1198}}</ref> The powder will embed itself into the furrows of the friction ridges, allowing the lifted ridges to be seen.<ref name=":7" />