Do Redheads Feel More Pain?

Natural redheads may experience pain differently from people with other hair colors, but the research is inconclusive. Some studies have found that redheads have a lower pain threshold, but other studies have found the opposite.

Between 1% and 2% of people with European ancestry have red hair. Research has found that redheads may have differences in certain health-related variables like the incidence of skin cancer and Parkinson's disease. However, it remains unclear what if any effect red hair color has on the perception of pain.

This article looks at some of the conflicting science on redheads and pain and what it says about the relationship between the two.

Is Managing Pain More Challenging for Redheads?

A variation in the MC1R gene is responsible for red hair color. Studies have found that the MC1R gene may also be involved in the way a person perceives pain. However, the studies done so far haven't agreed on whether the MC1R gene is associated with increased or decreased pain sensitivity. 

A 2020 study looked at specific MC1R variants and the role they might play in a person's perception of pain. The researchers found that only some of the variants seemed to affect pain sensitivity.

Another study that assessed pain sensitivity using a questionnaire and a test that measures a person's pain response to very cold water found increased pain sensitivity in females with red hair. This study also concluded that the increased sensitivity was related to variations in the MC1R gene.

Other studies, however, have found that the MC1R gene may be responsible for higher pain thresholds rather than lower pain thresholds. The 2020 study also found that redheads were less likely to have chronic pain conditions. This may mean that some variants of the MC1R gene contribute to increased pain sensitivity, while others contribute to increased pain tolerance. 

Do Redheads Require More Anesthesia?

How individual people experience pain and respond to pain medication is an important consideration for anesthesiologists. To date, much of the evidence regarding redheads and anesthesia has been anecdotal, however, there is some consensus that anesthesiologists should be aware that people with red hair may not be fully responsive to anesthetic medication. 

Some studies, however, have been unable to confirm whether having red hair actually affects a person's sensitivity to anesthetics. Research from 2015, for example, compared 319 people with red hair to 1,595 controls and did not find any differences in each group's response to anesthesia.  

Are Redheads More Prone to Melanoma?

Fair skin has a well-established relationship with both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. In the United States, for example, Whites are 25 times more likely to develop melanoma skin cancer than Blacks.

The risk is even higher if you have red or strawberry-blonde hair. People with these hair colors are more prone to sunburn. By some estimates, these groups also have a three times greater risk of developing melanoma than white people with darker hair.

Studies have found that the MC1R gene may be associated with both overall melanoma risk and a person's chances of getting melanoma earlier in life. However, this may be because people with red hair are more likely to be fair-skinned. Some research has also found that the health risks associated with red hair are reduced in people who have red hair and darker skin.

Additional Health Risks for Redheads

In addition to increased pain sensitivity, red hair color has been implicated as a risk factor for a number of health conditions, including Parkinson's disease, sensitive skin, increased bleeding, and endometriosis. 

However, it remains unclear whether a person's hair color contributes to these risk factors or if it's more likely to be related factors. A study from 2019, for example, concluded that these health risks were more likely associated with fair skin than red hair color.

Red hair may also be associated with some health benefits. For example, one older study found that men with red hair were at significantly decreased risk for developing prostate cancer. More recent studies, however, have been unable to confirm this finding.

How Much Pain Medicine Should Redheads Take?

Always follow your healthcare provider's recommendations when taking opioid pain medications. Ideally, you should take just enough pain medication to be able to move, walk, cough, and do the necessary things in life, then decrease the amount as your pain improves. If your current medication doesn't seem to be strong enough to let you do these things, talk to your healthcare provider. Never take more than recommended.

When your pain is minimal to moderate, you can switch to over-the-counter pain medication, such as ibuprofen. This is when most people return to their normal activities and find that they no longer need pain control. 

Do not keep using opioid pain medication longer than necessary. This can lead to serious side effects such as constipation, fatigue, and the risk of physical dependence.

Summary

There is some evidence that people with red hair may experience pain differently than people with other hair colors. Some studies have found increased pain sensitivity in people with red hair while others have found increased pain tolerance. Researchers believe this may be because of different variations in the MC1R gene, which is associated with red hair and with pain perception.

People with red hair may also respond to anesthesia differently. If you are scheduled for surgery, discuss this with your anesthesiologist.

Red hair is also associated with higher risk for other health concerns such as skin cancer and Parkinson's disease, however, it's unclear whether the increased risk is related to red hair or to lighter skin tones.