Human physical appearance

There are notable variations in visual human physical appearance from person to person. People are acutely sensitive to differences in human physical appearance. Male and female appearances are perceived as different, although homo sapiens have a very low level of sexual dimorphism compared with most other species. Some people have traditionally linked difference in personal appearance with "race" (but this is a controversial and sensitive matter).

Some differences in human appearance are genetic, others are the result of age or disease, and many are the result of personal adornment.

Differences in human physical appearance include:

• skin color (see also below), moles
• hair color
• hair type
• eye color
• epicanthic fold
• shape of nose
• body shape, somatype[?] (ectomorph, mesomorph, endomorph)
• body deformations, mutilations and other imperfections such as:
  • missing and irregular teeth
  • amputations
  • scars
  • acne (pimples)
  • wounds[?]

Notable variations in appearance which are more or less by choice include:

• clothing, including headgear, footwear, belt and suspenders; some clothing molds body parts into a desired shape, notably the corset, or adjust their position, like the bra and tight men's underpants;
• haircut, dreadlocks, braids, pony tail[?], wig, decorative hairpins, hairband, the way the hair is combed or otherwise arranged, or disarranged; also hair color can be changed;
• facial hair (beard, moustache, including fakes)
• cosmetics, stage makeup, body paintings[?]
• browning or reddening of the skin by sunshine or sun-lamp/solarium, sunburn
• body modifications (as far as not covered by clothing) such as:
  • body piercings, especially rings etc. through them (including earrings)
  • tattoos
• further objects worn as decoration, such as a necklaces, bracelets, rings

Objects that change appearance, and are used to rectify or heal body imperfections and injuries:

• tooth braces[?]
• bandages[?]
• hearing aids[?]
• calipers[?]
• cervical collars[?]

Ditto for which there is a less visible alternative (so they are more or less by choice):

• glasses
• gold teeth

Other functional objects, temporarily attached to the body:

• headphones
• sunglasses
• watch

Temporary changes include blushing, tears and an erection; each can be embarrassing, but in other circumstances the absence of an erection can be embarrassing.

See also Beauty, Fashion, Social role of hair, Vanity, human sexual attractiveness[?]