It may be ginger – but their skin is not.
In a seemingly paradoxical study, American researchers found that redheads have a prematurely high pain tolerance – wait for it – as a result of a mechanism that increases their susceptibility to sunburn.
“These findings describe the mechanistic basis behind previous evidence pointing to divergent pain thresholds in different pigmentation backgrounds,” said Dr. David Fisher of Massachusetts General Hospital in Massachusetts. He led the fiery study published in the journal Science Advances.
The research found that the cells that determine skin color – called melanocytes – play a major role in deciding how people experience pain.
Since burn hair people boast a faulty melanocyte, they cannot process enough dark pigment to turn brown, which has the additional effect of raising their threshold for soreness.
No worries, no Ron Weasleys were harmed in the name of science. A study of red fur mice revealed that their melanocytes function similarly to those of rust-headed humans.
As with all people, those with blood-red curls – the rarest hair color – boast a melanocyte receptor called melanocortin 1, the primary guideline of which determines when the body turns dark brown and black, reports the Daily Mail.
In redheads, however, the receptor does not function, causing their pale skin to be virtually incapable of bronzing, as well as more susceptible to sunburn.
Fortunately, despite their increased sun sensitivity, these “vermilion hairs” are also less likely to experience the burns.
The above screw receptors reduce the production of a chemical called POMC, which causes lower levels of various hormones. This in turn causes a balance between pain-inhibiting and pain-enhancing receptors, which increases the function of the pain-numbing opioid sensors that are not produced by the skin color cells.
As a result, redheads have a higher pain tolerance than their blonde and dark brown brothers.
The aim of the research is not to confirm the stereotype “South Park” that ginger has freaky superpowers (even though there is scientific evidence that they smell sexier, including special abilities).
On the contrary, ‘the understanding of this mechanism provides the confirmation of this earlier evidence and a valuable recognition for medical staff if they may differ according to patients’ pain sensitivity,’ said Dr. Fisher said.
The Scut Farkuses of the world are not the only ones who can endure abnormal levels of abuse. A 2019 study found that women are the superior sex when it comes to processing pain that has occurred in the past.