Abstract:
Facial appearance is thought to indicate immunity in humans, but very few studies have tested this
relationship directly. The aim of this study was to test the relationship between direct measures of
immunity, perceived facial health and attractiveness, and facial cues in African men. We show that
men with a stronger cytokine response are considered significantly more attractive and healthy. Men
with more masculine, heavier facial features (i.e. muscular appearance) have a significantly higher
cytokine response and appear significantly healthier and more attractive, while men with a yellower,
lighter, “carotenoid” skin colour, have a marginally higher immune response and are also considered
significantly more healthy and attractive. In contrast, more symmetrical, skinnier looking men
appeared more attractive and healthier, but did not have a stronger cytokine response. These findings
also shed new light on the “androgen-mediated” traits proposed by the immunocompetence handicap
hypothesis (ICHH) and we propose that facial muscularity serves as a better estimate of an “androgenmediated”
trait than facial masculinity. Finally, we build on previous evidence to show that men’s facial
features do indeed reveal aspects of immunity, even better than more traditional measures of health,
such as body mass index (BMI).
