Why do humans have less hair than primates?

There are notable differences between humans and primates, such as communication between peers, upright posture when walking, and the fact that the human body is hairless. Although this comparison seems to be an exception, it is entirely questionable. It is possible to question, for example, what is the justification for humans to have lost their hair.

The amount of hair in humans

Scientifically, the comparison is only effective because other mammals have much more hair than humans. humans, as it is estimated that the human body has an average of about five million hair follicles capillaries. Aside from humans, only a few animals such as whales, naked mole rats, and rhinos have little or no fur.

Most of these follicles produce only fine or short hairs, without much of an apparent feature, except for the hair, of course. Only after puberty does hair begin to grow in the armpits, private areas, beard, chest and back, usually in men.

Although science has not yet found an exact explanation for hair loss in humans, bioanthropologist from the University of Southern California suggests that hairs are too short to protect the body from adverse events. external.

There are several theories that have been proposed to explain hair loss in humans, and many experts believe that hair loss helped to regulate body temperature, resulting in a “cooling of the body".

Understand what has been concluded about hair loss in humans

science suggests that the need for thermoregulation in early humans during Pleistocene period may have led to hair loss. At that time, species such as Homo erectus began to hunt frequently, which often led to high levels of exhaustion.

Spending the day hunting could put hominids at risk of overheating. Hair loss may have occurred to allow sweat to cool the body more efficiently.

While this theory sounds plausible, it is flawed in some details. For example, there are populations that stopped running and hunting and, even so, their fur did not grow back, as with most mammals.

There are several theories around this issue and a multitude of possibilities. The questions are still valid to unravel the mysteries of human life. Research is important not only for understanding hair loss in humans, but also for dealing with issues such as baldness, unwanted hair loss and hair loss caused by hair loss treatments. chemotherapy.

Although it may seem incomplete or inconclusive, the results of years of theories raised help to support more current studies.

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