We have thousands and thousands of hairs on our body, about 100,000 of that are on our scalp.
This may look like a number of hair, yet humans are described as “hairless”. We evolved to be the one mammals with relatively hairless bodies, but still have scalp hair.
So how does your hair affect your body temperature when it's hot or cold?
Compared to other animals, our hair doesn't have as much of an effect on keeping us warm or cool as you may think.
It is essential for our survival.
Our brain function and body metabolism rely upon an optimum temperature of about 37 degrees Celsius. Thermoregulation maintains this body temperature, even once we are exposed to hotter or colder external temperatures.
For non-human mammals, body hair or fur plays a job in protecting against environmental cold or heat.
For example, a heavy fur coat helps contain a polar bear. Hot within the cold. But fur also keeps the animal cool in the warmth because it could Absorption or reflection radiant heat.
Scientists consider that for this reason humans have hair on our heads. Our heads face many of the sun's heat, and scalp hair keeps our heads cool.
The research was published last week. It turns out Curly hair provides excellent heat protection. This is since the thick insulating layer of curly hair reduces the quantity of sun that reaches the scalp.
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But hair will not be the one factor.
When humans moved from living within the forest to the savanna, they needed to walk and run long distances within the sun. This meant they needed a approach to manage the increased body temperature that comes with physical activity in the warmth.
Sweating is the most effective approach to lose heat and funky down, however the presence of hair reduces sweat and warmth loss from the skin.
So humans evolved. Losing body hair Be higher adapted to exercise in the warmth. Fewer hair follicles in our skin make room for more sweat glands. This made our skin perfect for sweat evaporation – and the accompanying heat loss – to maintain us cool.
So what's higher in the warmth?
You might think that removing body hair or going bald is the most effective approach to sweat and keep cool while exercising in the warmth. However, it will not be that easy.
Hair removal will cause hair growth. Amount of sun which reaches your scalp. This means you'll need Excessive sweating During exercise within the sun to scale back body temperature rise, but not an excessive amount of.
Actually, it's Minimally hairy
The parts of our body that sweat probably the most during exercise. These are our brow, neck, feet and hands.
So the most effective approach to keep cool in the warmth is to maintain these areas uncovered (but still use sunscreen). Removing body hair won't have a giant effect in your overall sweat rate.
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What happens when it's cold?
Our body hair and head hair theoretically play a job in keeping us warm, but the consequences are minimal.
When we're within the cold, the muscles of the hair follicles on the body contract, which causes the hair to rise up straight. This is an try to trap heat closer to the body and we see it as goosebumps. However, because our body hair is so thin, it doesn't do much to maintain us warm.
Our hair can prevent heat loss from the pinnacle, but then it is proscribed.
When it's cold, it could still be lost through heat. scalp Regardless of your hair.
The scalp also has only a really thin layer of fat in comparison with the remaining of our skin, so our head has less insulation to guard us from the cold.
A warm hat or beanie is the one approach to prevent excessive heat loss from the pinnacle.
briefly
Our head and body hair, or lack thereof, play a small role in the way you maintain your body temperature.
But overall, your hairstyle doesn't affect whether you're feeling hot or cold.