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Dr Kamil Al Rustom is a board certified dermatologist trained to treat diseases of the skin hair and nails He is also qualified to treat and perform
goosebumps
Goose bumps also called goose pimples goose flesh chill bumps chicken skin or the medical term cutis anserina are the bumps on a person s skin at the base of body hairs which involuntarily develop when a person is cold or experiences strong emotions such as fear or awe The reflex of producing goose bumps is known as horripilation piloerection or the pilomotor reflex It occurs not only in humans but also in many other mammals a prominent example are porcupines which raise their quills when threatened Goose bumps are created when tiny muscles at the base of each hair known as arrectores pilorum contract and pull the hair erect The reflex is started by the sympathetic nervous system which is in general responsible for many fight or flight responses As a response to cold in animals covered with fur or hair the erect hairs trap air to create a layer of insulation Goose bumps can also be a response to anger or fear the erect hairs make the animal appear larger in order to intimidate enemies This can be observed in the intimidation displays of chimpanzees 1 in stressed mice 2 and rats and in frightened cats In humans it can even extend to piloerection as a reaction to hearing nails scratch on a chalkboard or listening to awe inspiring music 3 Piloerection as a response to cold or fear is vestigial in humans as humans retain only very little body hair the reflex in humans now serves no known purpose In humans goose bumps are strongest on the forearms but also occur on the legs back and other areas of the skin that have hair In some people they even occur in the face or on the head Piloerection is also a rare symptom of some diseases such as temporal lobe epilepsy some brain tumors and autonomic hyperreflexia Goose bumps can also be caused by heroin withdrawal A skin condition that mimics goose bumps in appearance is keratosis pilaris Goose bumps can occur only in mammals since other animals do not have hair The term quot goose bumps quot is therefore misleading
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