There was a mystery that used to be associated with redheads. They get the attention of the people everywhere that they go. In Medieval Times, people used to consider the redheads to be vampires or witches and they were treated cruelly to the point of extinction in most areas. However, with a progressive society in place, the redheads can roam around freely without any fear of persecution. There are many distinguishing features that the redheads possess, making them strangely unique.
Redheads Are Mutants
Having red hair on the skin and on your head is a mutation of the MC1R gene. When the expression of the gene is blocked due to the presence of a more dominant gene, the body begins to produce excessive amounts of melanin that is responsible for the red color. This gene is also known as the ‘ginger gene’.
Redheads Can Produce Vitamin D
The redheads have quite a pale skin which is why they can get sunburnt easily. This allows their skin to absorb more sunlight, in turn helping them to produce more Vitamin D in their body.
The Ginger Men Have More Health Benefits
A study showed that the men who are natural redheads are less likely to be prone to prostate cancer. Only 5% of the study group succumbed to this disease showing the resistance of the gene to prostate cancer.
Redheads Attract More Bees
Another study showed that the bees sting people with red hair more than any other hair color. This is because in the animal world, the color red is associated with the predators (hunting causes blood appearance).
Redheads Have Low Tolerance To Pain
The MC1R gene makes the people to be more susceptible to pain. The gene does not allow the body to absorb the anesthetics which is why the redheads require a higher dose of anesthesia than blondes or brunettes.
Redheads Have Less Hair
While the thickness of the strands is the most in redheads, the actual number is quite less. An average redhead has about 90,000 strands while an average brunette has nearly 110,000 and blondes have more than 150,000 strands.
Redheads Are Commonly Left-Handed
A study conducted by the Department of Psychology at the Karl-Franzens University, Austria, showed that the redheads are more likely to be left-handed. This is because there is an association between the gene responsible for the left-handed behavior of humans and the gene responsible for the red hair.
The Country With The Most Redheads
The United Kingdom has the most density of redheads in the world. Nearly 20%-30% of the total population of England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland consists of people with a natural head of red hair.
Redheads Get Colder Than Others
The redheads are more sensitive to the cold than people with other hair colors. This is because the MC1R gene tends to over-activate the temperature detecting gene, causing the redheads to feel more cold.
Redheads Fear The Dentists
The reason behind this fear is quite simple. The redheads are sensitive to the pain and anesthetics, causing them to be more afraid of the dentists than others.
The Celebration Of Redheads
There are many countries in the world that celebrate the redhead days. Germany has them in September, Netherlands has them in August, and Italy has them in May.
People Fear Redheads
This fear of redheads is known as Gingerphobia and it is because of the prejudice that the redheads may lack souls. It could also be because people in the Middle Ages feared them to be vampires and witches.