What Your Hair Color is Telling You About Your Skin Cancer Risk

It's no secret now that people who have fair skin, freckles, and light or red hair are at a greater risk of developing skin cancer. But...why though? Is it simply because their skin is more sensitive to the sun? According to this new study published by the journal Nature Communications, it's far much more than that.

The study took 400 melanoma patients' DNA to see what was going on. They found that the individuals that had the MC1R gene had 42% mutations in their skin cells. These mutations specifically occur during sun damage, allowing the melanoma to spread. 

"Our study finds that melanomas from individuals carrying MC1R R variants associated with red hair and freckling have a significantly higher somatic mutational burden than melanomas from individuals with no MC1R R variants," the study says.

MC1R, also known as the 'ginger gene,' most commonly occurs in those with light or red hair, freckles, and pale skin. Although most individuals carrying the 'ginger gene' have Celtic heritage, that doesn't mean everyone else is quite off the hook.

Blondes and brunettes also carry the same gene, it's just that redheads carry two variants of it. And some of us have the gene but it's just not...well, showing. We don't think the Weasley family is too pleased to be hearing this news, but it reminds us of one thing: protect your skin.

Skin cancer specialist Dr. Ali Hendi gave Refinery29 some tips about how you can protect your skin from cancer. “Most people put sunscreen on by rubbing it into the palm of their hands, then rub it over their entire face,” Hendi says. “And, the areas that are really concave, like under the eye, don’t really get hit.”

Next time you go to the beach, or even just a light evening walk, remember to cover the important areas of your face and body. Sadly, skin cancer doesn't always happen when you spend your entire life in a tanning booth. (Although the risks are higher.) 

If you know you're going to be exposing your skin to the sun, even if it's just for a short amount of time, don't forget to use sunscreen. In addition, always examine your body for sudden changes in texture and appearance.