Goosebumps appear on our body when the tiny muscles located at the base of hair follicles contract and the hairs stand on end. This can occur both from cold or from strong feelings, such as fear, anxiety, inspiration, etc. Occasionally, some medicines can also cause goosebumps. Let’s look closer at the main reasons:

Cold: When we feel cold, our brain sends signals to the body that it should warm up. Goosebumps are one of such signals. However, goosebumps themselves are an attempt to retain and keep your body’s warmth. Goosebumps may be accompanied by symptoms such as pallor, trembling, or the desire to hug yourself. But once you get warm, goosebumps and other signals disappear. It’s quite curious that sometimes only thinking about the cold is enough for goosebumps to appear (even if you are feeling warm).
Strong emotions: Many people like watching horror movies and listening to horror stories — they give strong emotions and cause goosebumps. But how does it work? It’s all because of the adrenaline that is released by the body — it’s a strong stress hormone that speeds up the heartbeat, increases blood pressure, etc. That’s the reason why fear or anxiety can cause goosebumps on the body. However, they can also be provoked by activities that cause positive emotions, such as listening to music, for example.

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