What Causes Red Hair: The MC1R Gene

Redheads are bullied, fetishized, and medically misunderstood. Jessica Wynn is here to color in the facts about being a ginger on this Skeptical Sunday!

Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by writer and researcher Jessica Wynn!

Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1219

On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:

• The MC1R gene mutation causes red hair, pale skin, and freckles, but also influences pain processing, drug metabolism, and other biological functions throughout the body.
• Redheads experience pain differently — they tolerate electric shocks better but are more sensitive to heat and cold, requiring adjusted medical treatment approaches.
• Redheads have significantly higher melanoma risk because they produce less protective melanin, making sunscreen essential and frequent sun exposure dangerous.
• Redheads face ongoing discrimination and fetishization — from childhood bullying to adult harassment — despite red hair being a normal genetic variation affecting one to two percent of the population.
• Research on redheads' unique genetics is advancing pain treatment for everyone. Understanding genetic diversity helps medicine better serve all patients, not just those with red hair.
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!
• Connect with Jessica Wynn at Instagram and Threads, and subscribe to her newsletters: Between the Lines and Where the Shadows Linger!

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