A nurse is caring for a patient who has been experiencing persistent vomiting and diarrhea for the past two days. During assessment, the nurse notes that the patient's skin appears loose and flabby. Which of the following best explains why this skin change is occurring?
- Increased collagen production is compressing blood vessels beneath the dermis
- Inflammatory cells are migrating to the skin surface in response to illness
- Fluid volume deficit from fluid and sodium losses is reducing skin turgor
- Excessive moisture in the skin folds is causing tissue breakdown