A persistent myth suggests that hair and nails continue to grow after a person dies. This notion, while unsettling, is unfounded. According to Isabel Fernández, a biologist and forensic anthropology expert, both physiological and biochemical processes in the human body cease upon death, halting any growth of these structures.
The perception of continued growth often arises from the skin and soft tissues of the body retracting due to dehydration that occurs during decomposition. This retraction can create an optical illusion, making hair and nails appear longer against the shrunken soft tissues, as noted in an article on medical myths published in BMJ.
Furthermore, actual growth of hair and nails relies on a complex hormonal regulation that is no longer active after death. Therefore, the tissues supporting hair and nails shrink, giving the false impression that they have elongated when, in fact, the thickness of the underlying tissues has decreased.
This clarification shows that while myths about post-mortem growth can contribute to a morbid fascination with death, they are simply not true. For those curious about the validity of such claims, Maldita.es encourages readers to verify information through credible sources, such as their WhatsApp chatbot.
