Redheads may require up to 20% more anesthesia than individuals with other hair colors. This is felt to be due to mutations in the melanocortin receptor (MC1R) gene. 🧬 The MC1R gene is responsible not only for red hair (& fair skin), but also appears to influence pain perception and how the body responds to pain medications and anesthetics. 👉 So if you’re a healthcare provider and you are taking care of a patient with red hair, just know that you may have to give them more pain medication than individuals with other hair colors. 📚 For those interested, here is a study discussing redheads and anesthesia in more detail: Anesthetic requirement is increased in redheads Edwin B Liem et al. Anesthesiology. 2004 Aug. PMID: 15277908. 🚨Comment NEWSLETTER and I’ll send you a link to my free weekly newsletter with other interesting health information mixed with non-cringey medical humor. #surgery #redhead #ginger #anesthesia #medicalstudent