Some People Have Tiny Little Holes Above Their Ears

Have you ever noticed how some people have tiny holes above their ears? No, not from old piercings. Just random little divots on the sides of their heads.

Turns out, this is an incredibly rare condition called a preauricular sinus. Here’s what they look like up close, in case you’re having trouble picturing them:

https://twitter.com/charly_zandau/status/1096497225746841601

Scientists and doctors believe these tiny holes actually demonstrate just how far humans have evolved over time. According to one theory, they may be leftover from a time when we had fish gills!

I have a hole near my ear, called a preauricular sinus, thought to be an evolutionary remnant of a fish gill. It happens in 4-10% of all humans. pic.twitter.com/K9eQz52X5o

— Mildly Interesting (@interest_mild) February 2, 2018

Some people have them on just one side of their head, while others have them on both:

https://twitter.com/angelicsmoon/status/1155858802190749696

They aren’t really a big deal, according to doctors, though they can sometimes become infected:

“The majority of preauricular sinuses do not cause symptoms or problems unless they become infected. Common signs of infection include swelling, redness, fluid drainage, and pain. In these cases, treatment typically includes systemic antibiotics. If an abscess is present, it will likely need to be incised and drained,” according to the National Institutes of Health.

Now you know! If you or one of your friends has these funky little holes, you’re not alone and you’re not a complete weirdo! They’re somewhat normal and basically harmless.

What’s something weird you’ve discovered on or about your body over time? Any weird abnormalities that showed themselves throughout your life?

Let us know in the comments! We’d love to hear from you!