If you have naturally red hair, feeling the pain may be in your DNA. Experts have long suspected that people with red hair need more anesthetic drugs to get the same results as people with other hair colors. Doctors say red hair is the only physical characteristic that indicates how much anesthesia a person needs. Redheads report more pain during procedures, and some studies have shown that redheads are more resistant to local anesthetics, needing general anesthesia to keep them asleep during medical procedures. It turns out that people with red hair and the MC1R gene mutation need as much as 20% more anesthesia. The good news is that red hair or not, anesthesiologists will see to it that you get the right amount of anesthetic drugs to keep you under. The same gene that gives someone fiery locks may also lower their pain tolerance. In studies, researchers observed that people with red hair didn’t have an increased sensitivity to electrical stimulation compared to people with dark hair, but they had a higher sensitivity and lower tolerance for cold and heat pain. The MC1R gene produces melanin, a pigment that gives color to skin, eyes and hair. People with red hair have an MC1R gene mutation that produces the red pigment pheomelanin instead of melanin, which is black. Redheads are the only people with this gene mutation. So, if you’re a redhead, make sure you discuss anesthesia with your doctor before having any type of surgery.
