Nov 19, 2025 07:41 PM
https://www.zmescience.com/feature-post/...rently-rep
EXCERPTS: Our fascination with them may be irrational, but redheads are distinguished by the rest of the population through more than just hair color. Increasingly, studies are showing that redheads process pain somewhat differently than the rest of the population. Also due to their different genetic makeup, redheads require more anesthesia, are more prone to certain diseases, and experience pain differently. But things get even more interesting.
Red hair is most commonly found in the northern and western parts of Europe, especially in and around the British Isles. In Ireland, for instance, the population with red hair is sometimes estimated to be as high as 10%, whereas in Scotland, it’s around 6%. Still, red is, by a wide margin, the rarest natural hair color.
[...] This receptor is not unique to humans. Similar studies have shown that some Neanderthals were redheads too, but we don’t really know if this mutation first emerged in Neanderthals or ancient humans. It’s possible that both humans and Neanderthals developed the trait separately. Other mammals also have it...
[...] A number of studies have shown redheads feel pain differently and have surprising physical reactions to it. But it’s not as simple as saying that redheads are more or less tolerant to pain — rather, they tend to feel pain differently. To make it even more intriguing, research has also shown that redheads require more anesthetic. Overall, they’re tougher than pretty much all other hair colors.
[...] Redheads are also more resistant to pain produced by spicy foods, showing less sensitivity to capsaicin, the active component of chili peppers...
[...] However, redheads also turned out to be more vulnerable to toothaches, and more afraid of the dentist (presumably due to the stronger pain they feel). Even more disturbingly, their genes make them more likely to suffer from several diseases, such as sclerosis. There’s another interesting bit about redheads: they produce their own vitamin D, in much higher quantities than the rest of the population...
[...] So, to sum several studies up, redheads:
EXCERPTS: Our fascination with them may be irrational, but redheads are distinguished by the rest of the population through more than just hair color. Increasingly, studies are showing that redheads process pain somewhat differently than the rest of the population. Also due to their different genetic makeup, redheads require more anesthesia, are more prone to certain diseases, and experience pain differently. But things get even more interesting.
Red hair is most commonly found in the northern and western parts of Europe, especially in and around the British Isles. In Ireland, for instance, the population with red hair is sometimes estimated to be as high as 10%, whereas in Scotland, it’s around 6%. Still, red is, by a wide margin, the rarest natural hair color.
[...] This receptor is not unique to humans. Similar studies have shown that some Neanderthals were redheads too, but we don’t really know if this mutation first emerged in Neanderthals or ancient humans. It’s possible that both humans and Neanderthals developed the trait separately. Other mammals also have it...
[...] A number of studies have shown redheads feel pain differently and have surprising physical reactions to it. But it’s not as simple as saying that redheads are more or less tolerant to pain — rather, they tend to feel pain differently. To make it even more intriguing, research has also shown that redheads require more anesthetic. Overall, they’re tougher than pretty much all other hair colors.
[...] Redheads are also more resistant to pain produced by spicy foods, showing less sensitivity to capsaicin, the active component of chili peppers...
[...] However, redheads also turned out to be more vulnerable to toothaches, and more afraid of the dentist (presumably due to the stronger pain they feel). Even more disturbingly, their genes make them more likely to suffer from several diseases, such as sclerosis. There’s another interesting bit about redheads: they produce their own vitamin D, in much higher quantities than the rest of the population...
[...] So, to sum several studies up, redheads:
- are more vulnerable to extreme temperatures, especially cold;
- are less responsive to anesthetic;
- are less vulnerable to various types of pain, including electrical shocks;
- are less responsive to spicy foods;
- are more sensitive to painkillers;
- produce more vitamin D naturally;
- are more afraid of the dentist, and feel toothaches more strongly;
- are at a greater risk of diseases such as sclerosis and endometriosis, as well as melanoma.