Althouse: "Redheads may be at higher risk of melanoma even without sun."

November 1, 2012

"Redheads may be at higher risk of melanoma even without sun."

"A study on mice suggests that pheomelanin pigment, which gives rise to red hair, is itself a potential trigger for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer."

32 comments:

Drago said...: If you happen to see a scantily clad lass, be sure to throw yourself over her to ensure she is "protected" against the evils of UV rays.

Of course, if you do this indoors, your later explanation becomes problematic.; 11/1/12, 12:32 PM
LilyBart said...: I'm a redhead and two of my siblings have already had melanoma. I'm about as high a risk as you can get for this problem. Yikes!; 11/1/12, 12:33 PM
bagoh20 said...: I still love me some ginger.; 11/1/12, 12:38 PM
Original Mike said...: Oh, well.; 11/1/12, 12:52 PM
Indigo Red said...: Red hair and pale skin are vestigial pigmentations from Neanderthal.; 11/1/12, 12:58 PM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: It should be easy enough to decide on the awareness ribbon.; 11/1/12, 1:01 PM
Larry Davis said...: Yes, I'm a redhead (not anymore, hair is mostly gone)and have had one malignant melanoma and many basal cell carcinomas removed.

Science marches on!; 11/1/12, 1:05 PM
Larry Davis said...: Yes, I'm a redhead (not anymore, hair is mostly gone)and have had one malignant melanoma and many basal cell carcinomas removed.

Science marches on!; 11/1/12, 1:05 PM
Scott M said...: CRAP!

What color should our (we redheads) awareness ribbon be? Auburn, five-ball orange, or the black-brown of 3rd degree burnt flesh?; 11/1/12, 1:10 PM
ken in tx said...: That's too bad. I love the looks of Scots-Irish Presbyterian redheaded women; especially in plaid skirts.; 11/1/12, 1:44 PM
ricpic said...: There's a heavy price for going through life as that highest life form of all, the ginger.; 11/1/12, 1:46 PM
ken in tx said...: I wear my best glasses to church on Sunday.; 11/1/12, 1:48 PM
The Roller said...: this post must be coming from a place of "Cardinal" knowledge?; 11/1/12, 2:00 PM
Darrell said...: Early detection makes it an inconvenience rather than a life-threatening situation.

Head-to-toe inspections for any Ginger woman whenever you ask. I carry my own loupe.; 11/1/12, 2:01 PM
William said...: I have long labored under the handicap of red hair. I've already had one episode of basal cell carcinoma, and it's just a matter of time before the hammer drops again. It's not just the cancer. Redheads have more nerve endings than most people. We need more novicaine while in the dental chair.....But's it's not just the physiological problems. It's the social stigma that redheads must endure that really hurts. In literature we are stereotyped as Uriah Heeps. Name one red haired action hero......During my youth, I don't think anyone knew my first name. It was "Red" do this and "Red" fetch that. I longed for the day when I would be judged by the content of my character and not the color of my hair but it never happened.......Perhaps some day a genetic marker for red hair can be identified, and such children can be aborted.; 11/1/12, 2:03 PM
ken in tx said...: I just remembered that Ann is a natural redhead. That make's sense. She is good looking. I hope she is safe from melanoma.; 11/1/12, 2:04 PM
edutcher said...: My sister's a redhead and has had several bouts with sun poisoning.

No cancer, thank God.

Although I'm dark brown, our father was also a redhead, which may account for the way I pink up rather quickly.; 11/1/12, 2:19 PM
bgates said...: Name one red haired action hero

Bette Midler.; 11/1/12, 2:27 PM
Darrell said...: Name one red haired action hero

Amelia "Amy" Pond.; 11/1/12, 2:38 PM
john said...: Name one red haired action hero

Buddy Pine; 11/1/12, 2:43 PM
Jaske said...: Name one red haired action hero

Red Sonja; 11/1/12, 4:38 PM
Astro said...: Aren't Sue and Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four both redheads?; 11/1/12, 5:24 PM
Clyde said...: Name one red haired action hero

Faye Reagan; 11/1/12, 5:35 PM
Clyde said...: P.S. She's NSFW!; 11/1/12, 5:36 PM
AllenS said...: How about Red Skelton?; 11/1/12, 7:25 PM
Christy said...: Name one red haired action hero

Felicia Day, aka Codex (The Guild), aka Vi (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Depending upon your definition of "action," I'd offer up Christina Hendricks.; 11/1/12, 8:13 PM
LilyBart said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/1/12, 8:40 PM
LilyBart said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11/1/12, 8:46 PM
William said...: It does seem that red haired women have a sexual mystique not possessed by red haired men. That only makes our anguish worse. Picture a lynch mob surrounding some poor sharecropper and telling him that they admire the films of Halle Berry before they string him up. Such are the jibes of many here.....The fact that some of you fetishize our women does not reduce the stigma of being red haired. In some ways, it just makes the objectification worse. I would urge all here to make it a special point to be kind to a red haired person this week.; 11/1/12, 9:33 PM
Ralph L said...: My brother was a strawberry blond, and 2 of my 4 first cousin have red hair, but I was the dark-haired one who got melanoma at 30. Our mutual grandmother had it in her eye. Fortunately, mine was on the front of my thigh where it was hard to miss.; 11/2/12, 12:26 AM
I Have Misplaced My Pants said...: Name one red haired action hero

James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser.; 11/2/12, 12:27 AM
Robert Cook said...: Johnny and Sue Storm are blondes.

I'm a redhead and had a red-haired uncle who died from melanoma nearly 30 years ago. He spent a lot of time outdoors, (which I do not), but he also worked with toxic chemicals in his profession, so it's a toss-up as to whether his work or his red hair/fair skin doomed him.

I've had one basal cell carcinoma surgically removed, a number of "pre-cancers" removed by scalpel or dry ice, and several rounds with a chemo-creme that one rubs on one's face (or other areas of the skin, as prescribed) daily for two weeks or so. This creme interacts with areas of the skin where pre-cancers are nascent, resulting in a nasty, disfiguring rash. Where the raw rash develops is where pre-cancer exists. The reaction shows that the creme is doing its job and "killing" the extant pre-cancer cells.

My mother (a blonde) developed a melanoma last year, but it was caught and excised before it had spread, thank goodness.

It seems I have a very good chance to develop melanoma eventually. I have to be vigilant.; 11/2/12, 12:40 PM