And this is why.
Growing older also brings changes in appearance. An extra wrinkle, a line here and there, and bigger ears. You read that correctly: as you get older, your ears grow.
Bigger ears as we get older
Huffpost thought it was high time to investigate this human phenomenon. Because where we thought your ears were getting bigger, they are actually getting longer. But what are the scientific reasons for this? Dr. Nina Shapiro is an otolaryngologist in Los Angeles and a professor at UCLA. She explains that ears, like other facial tissues (such as your cheeks and cheekbones, ed.), tend to stretch as you age.
“What actually changes is the soft tissue,” she explains. “That is to say: the cartilage of the outer ear or the auricle and the earlobe. Aging reduces our collagen levels, which provide structure to the skin and cartilage, leading to stretching of these tissues. The functional parts of the ear, including the eardrum, ear bones and inner ear structures, are not affected.”
Other influences
One thing is certain: it is simply part of growing older. However, Shapiro explains that genetics and jewelry, for example, can also have a major influence on the size of your ears. “Those with more flexible facial muscles and skin may have a greater tendency to stretch the ear cartilage and earlobes,” she says. “People with piercings or those who wear heavy earrings may develop longer and elongated earlobes as they age. If you wear earrings, make sure you replace the heavy ones and don’t sleep with them on.”
But that’s not the only thing. For example, the size of your ears often runs in families. “While there may not actually be a ‘gene’ for big ears, you’ll probably find that ear shape and size are similar between relatives.”
Source: Happy in Shape | Image: Adobe Stock
