People with red hair often face a significant challenge: they respond differently to pain and painkillers. Using a multimodal approach to manage pain is crucial because redheads can react differently to opioids.
Anecdotal reports from anesthesiologists and various animal and human studies suggest that having red hair is associated with an altered sensitivity to both pain itself and to pain-relieving medications, according to a 2023 review in the journal Anesthesiology and Perioperative Science.
There's not enough evidence to claim redheads have a higher tolerance to alcohol than other people. However, several social and genetic factors (including the MC1R mutation) may lead to a perception that they have a high tolerance and a predisposition to alcoholism.
In the past five years, researchers have found that the genetic mutation responsible for redhead's ruby tresses and snow-white skin also makes them more sensitive to hot and cold -- and it could also make them a whole lot harder to numb up.
Researchers have found that individuals with red hair often require higher doses of anesthetic medications to achieve the same level of pain relief or sedation compared to people with other hair colors.
Genetics, namely two copies of the MC1R gene, can put people with red hair at a higher risk of skin cancer. They may also be at a higher risk of developing colorectal, ovarian, or cervical cancers.
They may be more sensitive to certain types of pain and can require higher doses of some pain-killing medications. However, studies suggest that their general pain tolerance may be higher. People with red hair also respond more effectively to opioid pain medications, requiring lower doses.
Lifespan. Redheads can live as long as 21 years in the wild.
Especially female redheads are known to suffer higher pain sensitivity and higher incidence of some disorders, including skin cancer, Parkinson's disease and endometriosis.
Women with red hair color exhibited higher sexual desire and sexual activity, a higher number of sexual partners of the preferred sex, earlier initiation of sexual life, and lower sexual dominance (and therefore higher sexual submissiveness).
Pheomelanin ranges from red to pink. Redheads have much more pheomelanin than eumelanin in their bodies. That's why their skin tone is often so light, and why their hair is often reddish.
Fun facts about red hair strands
Redheads have less hair and thicker strands than most people. On average, it's believed that those with red hair have 90,000 strands, while blondes have around 110,000 and brunettes have 140,000. Redheads are less likely to go grey.
In summary, redheads are more sensitive to thermal pain than women with dark hair but do not show differences in baseline electrical pain thresholds. Furthermore, redheads are more resistant to the analgesic effects of subcutaneous lidocaine.
Prior research has already put red-haired humans and mice into the spotlight, pointing out that they have a higher pain threshold. They also don't need as high of a dosage of pain-killing opioids, and they tend to require more anesthesia compared to people with non-red hair.
Her research lead all the way back to the ginger gene's origin in Africa, tracing its spread across ancient Greece, to the redheaded mummies of China, and to Renaissance Europe. Colliss Harvey's research found that redheaded individuals have higher levels of vitamin D, which is a source of strength.
In fact, green eyes are the most common eye color amongst redheads 💚🤯 If you have green eyes, blue eyes or any other color — we gotta say, it's very DEMURE 👨🦰👩🦰
As we age, our hair's production of pigment naturally decreases. This gradual slow-down in redheads specifically, is called Achromotrichia. Achromotrichia is simply the process by which the hair pigment slows down, until it eventually stops being produced altogether.
Did you know? These red hair variants in MC1R likely first appeared in ancient humans around 30,000-80,000 years ago, at about the same time as early migrations out of Africa. Scientists used to think red hair evolved to help people produce Vitamin D in chilly places with little sunlight (think Ireland).
One of the many facts about redheads is that their hair will never turn grey. The pigment in their hair that causes it to be red will just fade over time, causing their hair to turn blonde or white, but never grey.
Only hair length and the hair colors “brown” and “brown and red” have been identified as independent risk factors for head lice infestation. Most head lice die without ingesting more blood within 30 hours after the last feed (18).
Collectively, people with red hair were rated as most unattractive, but it must be noted that in the non-obese woman condition, red hair was seen as equal to blond hair in attractiveness, though in every other condition red hair was seen as significantly less attractive.
The research isn't conclusive, but experience is a form of evidence. And it's hard to ignore all the anecdotal data that suggests anesthetics aren't as effective on people with red hair. “The good news is that red hair or not, you'll get the amount of general anesthesia that's right for you,” Dr. Sessler reassures.
Redheads have more pheomelanin
Redheads produce more pheomelanin due to genetic changes (called variants) in the MC1R gene found on chromosome 16. This gene provides the code for a protein called melanocortin 1 receptor that is located on melanocytes and is responsible for the type of melanin produced.