The Secret Meaning of Dimples Most People Don’t Know

From a medical perspective, dimples are caused by a difference in the zygomaticus major muscle, the one that pulls the corners of the mouth upward when we smile. In people who have it, this muscle is either shorter or split into two parts. The result? The skin sinks slightly when we smile, forming those famous dimples that often cause cracking.

It’s a bit as if, instead of a straight path, nature had preferred to create a small, more picturesque, and particularly attractive, detour!

Genetics Enters the Picture: Inheriting the Dimpled Smile

Like eye color or nose shape, dimples can be inherited from parents. Sometimes, if only one parent has them, the child will inherit them. Scientists classify them as a dominant trait, meaning that a single gene can be enough to pass on this trait.

But genetics is a bit like a lottery: even if two parents have dimples, there’s no guarantee the child will have them. Gene expression can vary from person to person, giving each face a unique signature.

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