Media release

From: The Royal Society

More than just a pretty face? The relationship between immune function and perceived facial attractiveness

Gorgeous gorgeous girls – Turns out looks really are important, at least when it comes to a healthy immune system. Facial attractiveness ratings and levels of immune markers (from blood tests) were collected for 159 participants and analysed alongside attractiveness and demographic information from 492 survey participants. The results found multiple relationships between immune function and perceptions of facial attractiveness - this may reflect preferences for traits historically linked to health, the authors say.

Researchers have long speculated that perceptions of attractiveness reflect a preference for traits historically linked to health and, ultimately, immune function. The results of the current research suggest that facial attractiveness may provide insights into one’s immune function, particularly as it relates to one’s ability to efficiently combat (primarily) bacterial threats. Additionally, for men, facial attractiveness may also provide cues to their ability to efficiently manage viral threats and neoplastic growth. Although future research is needed replicate these results, the current research suggests that a relationship between facial attractiveness and immune function is likely to exist.