No, fingerprints themselves do not change significantly over 15 years.
While superficial damage like cuts or burns can temporarily alter a fingerprint, the underlying ridge pattern remains the same throughout a person's life. This is because the pattern is formed deep within the dermal layer of the skin. Changes in size and shape occur as a person grows from infancy to adulthood, but the fundamental pattern remains consistent. This is why fingerprints are a reliable method of personal identification. The intricate details and overall pattern are established early and remain largely unchanged, making them suitable for long-term identification purposes, even over a period as long as 15 years.
In summary, while the size of a fingerprint might increase as a person ages, the core ridge pattern that defines its uniqueness remains consistent, confirming its reliability for identification over extended periods.
