Re: How long are your fingers?

When the index fingers are not longer than the ring fingers it indicates that the individual has, during fetal development, been exposed to male levels of testosterone. That in turn will, before birth, have pre-programmed certain parts of the body with regard to future development and that, in turn, will have sensitized the hair follicles in certain areas of the skin to respond to future testosterone stimulation by "male" type hair growth. So it's likely that even moderate testosterone levels as an adult are likely to lead eventually to growth of coarse "terminal" hair in those areas.

In effect, it seems to mean that we're possibly pre-programmed with regard to moustache and/or beard growth in the same sort of way as we're pre-programmed with regard to height.

Now, of course it's true that we can do something to ensure we reach our full height potential -- but not much. Most of us eventually just accept that it's not something that we're to blame for and if folk don't like us the height we are, then too bad. And I think that the implications of this sort of research may be that while we can take steps to mitigate any late-onset stimuli to facial hair growth, it's probably best to accept that, like height, facial hair is part of our pre-programming.

For me, it makes me much happier to realise that what I'd figured out by other methods is actually confirmed by scientific research which uses something as simple as relative finger length to establish -- facial hair is something that was programmed into my body before I was born. Attempting to change my finger length isn't on! :-). So for me, the decision to shave is simply confirmed as the most logical approach to take. I also suspect I'll be going around from now on surreptitiously trying to check the length of other women's fingers :-)

Anyone else care to contribute some thoughts? Tweet