Many of us believe that as humans, we stop growing at a certain age, and as we get older, our body parts start to shrink. But has anyone told you that there are a few body parts that never stop growing, even as we age?
Well, if no one has shared this small wisdom with you before, let me be the first to tell you that our ears and nose never stop growing. You might look around and notice that in fact, the facial appendages of senior citizens are slightly larger than those of their younger counterparts. So, why is this?
It is true that as we age, our nose and ears do get bigger, but not because they are growing. The real reason is a common scientific force known as gravity. Our nose and ears are made of cartilage, and while many people mistakenly believe that cartilage never stops growing, the fact is that cartilage does stop growing. However, cartilage is made of collagen and other fibers that begin to break down as we age.
Gravity causes the cartilage in your ears and nose to break down, resulting in droopier, longer features. Studies have estimated that ears lengthen at a rate of about 0.22 millimeters per year. This growth appears in both men and women, so it's just one of the many universal joys of getting older.
Noses and ears are made of cartilage, a flexible tissue that's harder than skin but softer than bone. It wears down over time and doesn't provide as much support to the skin on top of it. Your skin also loses elasticity and firmness as you age, tending to sag. Loose or sagging skin over a weaker cartilage frame makes ears and noses look longer. Therefore, while our noses might sag, our cheeks and lips actually lose volume, making everything else look comparatively larger.
You may also find that the rest of your face changes in ways that emphasize your nose or ears. If your cheeks and lips look thinner, your nose might look bigger by comparison. A looser jawline could draw attention to earlobes that hang lower than they used to.
