Studies Link Red Hair to Melanoma and 20% More Anesthesia, Dark Hair to Alopecia Areata
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 3
Studies Link Red Hair to Melanoma and 20% More Anesthesia, Dark Hair to Alopecia Areata
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jun 3
Summary
Red hair stands out most strongly in the research: MC1R variants tied to red-blond pigment are associated with higher melanoma risk, and mouse studies found that risk stayed elevated even without UV exposure.
About 20% more anesthesia may be needed in some people with the red-hair MC1R variant, according to a widely cited study, though findings on pain tolerance and drug response have been mixed.
More than 500,000 U.K. health records in a 2024 study showed black hair was linked to significantly higher lifetime risk of alopecia areata than brown hair, with darker shades generally showing stronger associations.
Stress can also speed graying by depleting pigment-producing stem cells in hair follicles, but experts say hair color is only a secondary clue and not a primary health risk factor.