Dimples facts for kids

Dimples are small, natural dents that can appear on your skin, especially on your cheeks when you smile. They are often seen as a charming feature! These little indentations are caused by the way certain muscles in your face are formed.

Adult with dimples

What Are Dimples?

Dimples are small, visible indentations on the skin. They are most commonly found on the cheeks, but some people can also have them on their chin or even on their lower back. When someone with cheek dimples smiles, the dimples become more noticeable, adding a unique look to their face.

How Do Cheek Dimples Form?

Cheek dimples are usually caused by a slight difference in a facial muscle called the zygomaticus major. This muscle helps you smile and lift the corners of your mouth. In people with dimples, this muscle might split into two parts or attach a little differently to the skin. When they smile, the shorter muscle pulls the skin inward, creating the dimple. It's a bit like a tiny, natural tether pulling the skin down.

Are Dimples Inherited?

Yes, dimples are often passed down through families. This means they are a genetic trait. If your parents or grandparents have dimples, there's a good chance you might have them too. However, genetics can be tricky, and not everyone in a family will have them, even if others do. Sometimes, a person might only have one dimple on one side of their face, which is also completely normal.

Types of Dimples

While cheek dimples are the most famous, there are other types:

• Chin Dimples: Also known as a "cleft chin," this is a Y-shaped indentation on the chin. It's caused by the underlying bone structure of the jaw.
• Back Dimples: These are two small indentations on the lower back, often called "Dimples of Venus" or "Dimples of Apollo." They are located near the spine and are also a genetic trait, often more noticeable in people with lower body fat.

Do Dimples Last Forever?

For many people, dimples are a permanent feature. However, sometimes dimples can appear or disappear as a person grows and changes. For example, some babies are born with dimples that fade as they get older, while others might develop them later in childhood. This can happen as facial muscles and fat change over time.

Images for kids

• 

  Isabelle Gilbert's (not pictured) Dimple Maker claimed to make permanent cheek dimples for women who desired them.

See also

In Spanish: Hoyuelo para niños