A dimple is any sort of indentation; most people use the term to refer specifically to indentations in the skin of people, particularly on the cheeks. Dimpled cheeks are considered attractive in many cultures, and it should be fairly easy to find someone with dimples in your neighborhood, since dimples are a genetic trait. Most dimples are actually caused by a birth defect, which just goes to show you that not all “malformations” are actually bad.

The most common cause of dimples is a shortened muscle, which explains why dimples are not always apparent at rest, since muscles are typically in their shortened state at rest. In the face, shorter face muscles pull at the skin, especially when someone smiles, creating a classic dimple. Over time, the muscles of the face can slowly stretch out, which is why some people have dimples when they are young, but lose them as they age. Dimples can also form on other body parts, like the buttocks. Dimples in other regions are not as highly prized as those on the face, perhaps because your face is readily visible, while other body parts are not.

The genetics of dimples is actually rather interesting. Dimples are a dominant trait, which means that it only takes one gene to inherit dimples. If neither of your parents has dimples, you shouldn't have them either, unless you experience a spontaneous mutation. If one of your parents has dimples, you have a 25-50% chance of inheriting the gene, since it means that parent inherited the gene from one or both parents. If both of your parents have dimples, you have a 50-100% chance of inheriting the gene, depending on how they inherited their dimple genes.

In most cases, facial dimples appear on the cheeks, although they can also pop up on the chin, and they are typically not visible until someone smiles. The changes in the face caused by a smile will bring out the dimple. However, some people only have a dimple on one side; this physical trait can actually be rather endearing. The look of dimples can also vary; as an inherited trait, unusual dimples can be passed on through multiple generations of a family.

Because dimples can fade with time as someone's facial muscles stretch out, many people associate them with youth. Children are referred to as having dimpled cheeks, for example, and someone who has dimples may be thought of as youthful or baby faced.