• Question: Why do we get goose pimples and what are they?

    Asked by roisinn to Cathal, Ciara, Emma, Michael, Sive on 14 Nov 2013. This question was also asked by paulfee1.
    • Photo: Sive Finlay

      Sive Finlay answered on 14 Nov 2013:

      Hi Roisin,
      Paul asked this question already so you can have a look at my answer to him for more details.
      We get goosepimples because it’s a natural reflex to try and conserve heat. Small muscles in your skin contract to produce the bumps and hollows and also to raise the hairs in your skin. Our ancestors were much hairier so, when this happened, their raised hair trapped a layer of air between the hair and the skin which acted like an insulating blanket. It still works for us in the same way but not quite as well since we don’t have as much hair!
      Sive

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