Redheads Pigment is Stacked Against You : Dave’s Diary

On the Morning News we discussed the concern for, detection of and prevention against melanoma and other forms of skin cancer.  There is much we can do to prevent the disease but we can’t do much to fight those Irish genetics.   

The red hair pigment can put redheads at a far higher risk of developing melanoma,  even if they don't spend a lot of time in the sun, reports HealthDay News of research from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

Investigators found a link between the red hair pigment, called pheomelanin, and melanoma. But why does the creation of pheomelanin in the body increase the risk of deadly skin cancer? The short answer: Pheomelanin appears to leave skin cells more vulnerable to DNA damage.

Even though deadly melanoma can be triggered without sun damage, everyone -- especially redheads -- should avoid sun exposure as much as possible and get regular full-body checks by a dermatologist.