Why do we get goosebumps? Experts explain
Goosebumps occur when the body releases hormones that tighten the tiny muscles surrounding the roots of your body hair, Dr. Jen Caudle tells Yahoo Life. This tightening causes the hairs on your epidermis to stand straight up, forming small bumps on the skin.
These bumps show up when you're cold and can also form when you experience intense emotions, such as fear, adds Caudle.
Goosebumps also regulate body temperature, by trapping a layer of air close to the skin. So when we’re cold, this can help keep us warm, Dr. Hana Patel, a London-based general practitioner in family medicine tells Yahoo Life.
Fun fact: Animals get goosebumps, too. The same phenomenon helps some animals look bigger, in response to something that could harm them.
