What Your Ear Hair Says About Your Health

Almost everyone has fine, vellus hairs on their ears, but several factors trigger them to become darker and coarser.

• The Testosterone Paradox: The primary driver is androgens, specifically testosterone. As you age, hair follicles in the ears, nose, and eyebrows often become more sensitive to these hormones. While this same sensitivity causes scalp follicles to shrink (leading to baldness), it signals ear follicles to go into overdrive.
• Extended Growth Cycles: Aging changes the “biological clock” of a hair follicle. Hairs stay in the growth phase longer and shed less frequently,