Why do humans have underarm hair?

Author: Dr. Michelle Kertzmann DDS  |  Last update: Monday, November 17, 2025

Reducing friction Armpit hair prevents skin-to-skin contact during activities that involve arm motion, such as running and walking. The same applies to pubic hair.

What is the purpose of hair in armpit?

The function of hair in our armpits is to protect the skin from friction and to help regulate body temperature.

Why did humans develop armpit hair?

The armpit hair acts as a wick to circulate off the sweat which otherwise would be susceptible to colonization of bacteria, fungi, and other microbes...as sweat would dampen the mostly/naturally enclosed area literally topping their req.

Why do I have pubic hair but no armpit hair?

For most girls, armpit hair starts to grow a little while after they get pubic hair. So, if you have some pubic hair (even if it's scanty and soft) and you have your period, armpit hair may still be on its way. Then again, you may never have much armpit hair (and that's not a bad thing).

Why should we remove underarm hair?

Usually it's important because less armpit hair will lessen the bacterial load that feed on sebum, sweat produced there, because less hair equals to less surface area for them to tether to & thus body odour is significantly reduced.

Why Do Humans Still Have Pubic and Armpit Hair When We've Lost Most of the Rest?

Why you should stop shaving your armpits?

Friction, heat, and sweat during exercise or on particularly hot days can cause irritation of the delicate underarm skin. Avoiding shaving can also prevent razor burn, ingrown hairs, or folliculitis, which can all be consequences of shaving."

Is it healthier to have armpit hair or not?

The importance of human underarm hair is unclear. It may naturally wick sweat or other moisture away from the skin, aiding ventilation. Colonization by odor-producing bacteria is thereby transferred away from the skin (see skin flora).

Why does my 4 year old have pubic hair?

Premature pubarche, or the development of pubic hair before the age of 8 in girls or 9 in boys, is most commonly caused by premature adrenarche. Adrenarche is the maturation of the adrenal zona reticularis in both boys and girls, resulting in the development of pubic hair, axillary hair, and adult apocrine body odor.

What ethnicity has the least body hair?

According to anthropologist and professor Ashley Montagu in 1989, many East Asian people and African populations such as the San people are less hairy than Europeans and West Asian peoples. Montagu said that the hairless feature is a neotenous trait.

Do hairy armpits smell more?

Scientists think human armpit hair — longer than that of any other apes — evolved to retain chemicals that are produced copiously by armpit glands, so as to intensify people's natural body odor and increase the chance that others will smell it, and like it.

What is the point of leg hair?

Why do we have body hair, then? Well, it turns out that our hair follicles play an important role in homeostasis (aka, when our body systems are balanced and working properly), but also in wound healing and skin protection.

Does shaving pubic hair reduce odor?

Pubic hair holds on to residual urine, vaginal discharge, blood and semen. Bacteria line up all along the hair shaft just lunching it up and creating odor. (Very appetizing, I know.) Trimming your pubic hair reduces that surface area for bacteria, thus reducing odor.

Is plucking armpit hair bad?

Plucking may be a quick and easy way to remove unwanted body hair, but it isn't always the safest or most effective. And plucking underarm hair is no exception. Plucking underarm hair can be painful, time-consuming, and if done incorrectly, can cause irritation, ingrown hairs, or scarring.

At what age does pubic hair turn white?

In some individuals, the change in color of pubic hair may occur around the age of fifty, but it can happen earlier or later, depending on individual genetic predispositions and lifestyle factors.

Why are pubic hairs so coarse?

Based on these findings, we hypothesize that pubic hair evolved with a thicker cuticle layer to better protect the hair interior, especially in environments that come into contact with urine.

How to remove hair from pennis permanently at home?

Methods of at-home hair removal include trimming, shaving, tweezing, waxing, and hair removal creams. Those who would prefer professional treatment may wish to consider salon waxing or, for a more permanent solution, laser therapy, or electrolysis.

Which race has healthiest hair?

Asian hair and Caucasian hair handle stress and fatigue well. Asian hair has the highest hardness and elasticity. It is resistant to stretching and can withstand a traction force of 60 to 65 grams.

What race has no facial hair?

There is no specific ethnicity that can't grow facial hair, but East Asian individuals, such as Japanese and Chinese, tend to have less facial hair and slower growth rates compared to other ethnicities.

Which ethnicity is hairiest?

The average diameter, or thickness, of Asian hair is from 80 to 120 µm, compared to 65 µm in Caucasian hair and 55 µm in Black hair. The average diameter of Hispanic/Latino hair tends to fall between that of Asian and Caucasian. Caucasians have the highest hair density among the ethnicities studied.

Why are girls hitting puberty early?

In the United States, it may seem like more and more girls are hitting puberty early. This trend may be related to the increasing rate of obesity in the country. Researchers link a higher body mass index (BMI) to early breast development. Eating a lot of processed, high-fat foods may cause early puberty.

Why does my 8 year old boy have body odor?

Kids start to have body odor around the time puberty starts and hormones change. Usually, this happens when females are 8–13 years old, and males are 9–14. But it can also be normal to start puberty earlier or later. Bathing every day, especially after a lot of sweating or in hot weather, can help with body odor.

Why do I have white hair on my private part?

White pubic hair may result from simple aging, in which the skin produces less melanin as the body ages. However, some conditions, such as fungal infections, lice infestation, or vitiligo, may also result in white pubic hair.

Do shaved armpits smell less?

Shaving your armpits is indeed shown to reduce your body odour, because when you have a lot of underarm hair, sweat is able to collect there more easily.

Does hair grow back thicker after shaving?

No — shaving hair doesn't change its thickness, color or rate of growth. Shaving facial or body hair gives the hair a blunt tip. The tip might feel coarse or "stubbly" for a time as it grows out. During this phase, the hair might be more noticeable and perhaps appear darker or thicker.

Why should I not shave my arms?

Shaving leaves the thicker blunt end behind, compared with the fully grown tapered unshaved hair. Before shaving your arms you should consider, regrowth (stubble), possibility of ingrown hairs , dry skin or even shaving rash.

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