Hairy situation out of control

September 21, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: Is there any way to get rid of or at least control nose and ear hair? I am a 56-year-old male and have a major problem. I trim it but it is very aggravating.

DEAR READER: Believe it or not, hair in the nose and ears actually has purpose. To begin with, hair in the nose prevents germs, fungus and spores from entering the lungs, acting as a filter. As we inhale, unfiltered air allows any solid particles that are in the air we breathe to enter the body. Thanks to the hairs, instead of the larger particles being taken in, they are trapped in the filtering system and prevented from entering. Further, as air passes through our nasal passages, hair and mucus provide both moisture and heat. We’ve all been out of doors in on a very cold day, attempting to breathe what appears to be frigid air into our lungs. [Read more...]

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Hairy ears a mystery

August 4, 2010 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have hairs growing from my earlobes and on the edge of my left ear. I’ve cut them, but they grow back. What would cause hair to grow in these areas? Is there a Y-linked factor?

DEAR READER: Researchers once thought it was an inherited trait believed to be passed along on the Y chromosome. That apparently isn’t true. We do know that hair growth is linked with testosterone levels in males as they age, but I am at a loss to explain why a man may have a bald head but will grow hair in unwanted areas of the body like the ears and nose.

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