Red hair and pain sensitivity: insights into genomics of pain?

Purpose

To present a review of insights gained from investigating the question as to whether red haired individuals have altered sensitivity to pain.

Methods

A narrative review of the literature.

Results

Anecdotal observations from anaesthesiologists have suggested that individuals with red hair require more analgesia on average than members of the general population. This observation has been confirmed and the redheaded phenotype is associated with an altered sensitivity to pain across a wide range of different pain types. Through the use of mouse models, a central mechanism for this altered pain sensitivity has been proposed involving both the melanocortin and opioid receptor systems, despite the causative mutation for this phenotype occurring in melanocortin 1 receptors (MC1Rs) on peripheral melanocytes.

Conclusions

Understanding the endocrine imbalance caused by this loss of function mutation helps us to further explore the mechanisms behind pain sensitivity. It also facilitates a discussion about how pharmacogenomics can be exploited to personalise and subsequently optimise treatment.

Graphical Abstract