29 August, 2005 14:45 GMT
The skin pigmentation of redheads is more prone to oxidation than the pigmentation of brunettes.
Redheads might be more susceptible to skin cancer than brunettes because of differences in the way ultraviolet light affects human pigments. The results of new research by a Duke University chemist were presented Aug. 28 at the American Chemical Society annual meeting in Washington, DC.
Oxidative Stress
The skin pigmentation of redheads is more prone to oxidation than the pigmentation of brunettes, Duke chemistry professor John Simon and colleagues found after isolating the two in the laboratory.
"Activating oxygen can produce compounds called radicals that put oxidative stress on cells," Simon said in a prepared statement. "Such stress could ultimately lead to cancer and other diseases."
Open Question
The doctors used ultraviolet light and a special microscope to determine that pigment produced by cells in red-haired people favored oxidation, while the pigment of dark-haired people does not.
Simon cautioned that his research does not provide a definitive link. "Whether or not this is important in what happens in cellular systems is an open question and the subject of future work," he said.
More information: The National Cancer Institute has more about skin cancer.
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