The gene mutation also makes redheads more sensitive to even the slightest temperature changes. Redheaded people feel hot and cold temperature changes faster and with increased sensitivity than those with other hair colors. This means that if you have a red-headed friend and it’s too hot or too cold, she could be feeling it worse than you.
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Surprise surprise, this is one remarkable fact of redheads because did you know that the human body doesn’t usually produce vitamin D but sources it mainly from sunlight and supplements because you cannot get the right amount from food unless you start focusing on only Vitamin D rich foods.
When humans migrated out of Africa thousands of years ago, their skin lightened over time because they were exposed to less sun. Dark skin protects people from harmful UV rays but in this process, humans also lost the ability to produce vitamin D being reliant on the sun. But people with red hair due to decreased exposure to sun adapted their bodies to produce vitamin D sufficient for the bodies needs.
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Redheads are twice more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease in comparison to others. A study in 2009 published in the annals of neurology found those with red hair invited more risk unlike those with dark hair. However, they don’t really know the reason why although they found evidence that redheads were at greater risk of melanoma, a form of skin cancer. This was proved by a study at Harvard Medical School.
When a redheads skin is exposed to UV rays, PTEN is broken down making it easier for pigment-producing cells to grow faster that can turn into cancer.
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Research at the BMJ study about why surgeons dread redheads reached a conclusion that redheads do need extra care during surgery than others. However, this was more because of the stereotype than because of clinical evidence. “It would seem that the reputation of people with red hair for having increased perioperative risk is without any basis in fact and should only be used as an excuse of last resort by surgeons defending problematic bleeding or recurrent hernias.”
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