We always thought that our paler-than-ghosts complexion was the reason why redheads are prone to skin damage and therefore skin cancer. But, from recent developments in health news, it’s not. It turns out that, actually, the reddish pigment in our ginger hair, pheomelanin, is the culprit that makes us at higher risk of producing skin cancer. …
All posts in Health
Are All Gingers Related?!
Thanks to new scientific research conducted by ScotlandDNA and their home test kits, approximately half of all Brits carry the ginger gene, giving them hefty potential to create a ginger baby, even if they don’t have red hair themselves. And, in an attempt to reduce the mocking that redheads face, particularly in the UK (here’s …
40% of Britons Carry Ginger Gene
We all know that having red hair subjects you to ridicule and a bunch of nasty health risks. And, until now, we may have thought we were alone in this ‘Team Ginger’, but it turns out a hell of a lot more people in the UK carry the ginger gene than we first thought, as …
Why DNA testing for Ginger Gene could be a bad idea
Redheads are no strangers to being mentioned in the national and international press. Occasionally ridiculed, but mostly appreciated (we like to think). And as much as Ginger Parrot is a promoter of celebrating our genetic differences and spreading ginger love, every so often we ask the question: Why does everyone care so much? Sure, we …
Ginger Health: Should I take Vitamin D supplements?
*It’s the most wonderful tiiiime of the yeeeeear…* Sorry, I’m calm now. But seriously, the jolliest time of the year is upon us once again, and we’re pretty excited. People are shopping, caroling, smiling, basically having a grand ol’ time organising their Christmas festivities. For most, it means a well-earned break from work, school, and …
DNA project to make ‘Ginger’ Map of Britain
Roll up, roll up! Ginger Scots, are you ready to make it count? Because a new project by ScotlandsDNA aims to create a ‘Ginger Map’ of the British Isles, first of all accounting for how many Scottish men and women carry the ‘ginger’ gene. This is not Scotland, in case you were wondering It’s all …
Health: Redheads at higher risk of skin cancer without sun exposure
All redheads know the basic rules when it comes to sunshine. Is that a piece of blue sky? Is the sun peaking out of the clouds a smidge? Uh oh, I’ll get the sunscreen on. My non-ginger friends have always teased me about my constant obsession with protecting my skin in the sunlight, but it looks …
Redheads and Anaesthesia: Fact or Myth?
Life as a ginger child will help you grow up with a thicker skin, I think we can all agree on that. But I was still surprised to hear that it also makes you less sensitive to anaesthesia. My Dad used to tell us of his trip to the dentist that resulted in excruciating pain; …
Health: UV Sensing Wristbands
As redheads, we’ve all made the mistake of staying out in the sun for a smidge too long. So I think it’s fair to say that we all know how important it is to reapply sun screen or when it’s time to call it quits before our skin becomes as red as our hair! But …
Health: Sun Burn Home Remedies
You know you shouldn’t have, but you did. You went outside without a hat on and no sunscreen. It happens to the best of us. We tell ourselves, “Hey, I’ll only be outside for 10 minutes, 20 minutes tops.” Let’s skip to two hours later: we’re still outside and we are as red as a …
Are redheads at higher risk of disease?
In terms of growing old gracefully, I’ve always felt proud of being a redhead. Forget grey hairs, we’ve got silver locks to look forward to. I like to think of ourselves of silver foxes, like Cilla Black or Betty White. I mean, no one is cooler than those two. But it’s now being said that …
Health: SPF 130, A Ginger’s Best Friend
Sunscreen, block, tan lotion, and cream are all synonyms for “lifesaver” to every ginger roaming the world right now. Yep, it’s getting hot, hot, hot out there! And let’s face it, without us and our pale complexions, the SPF industry would probably still be stuck in the days of SPF 10. Oh, the horror! I …
Health: Natural Hero’s Hot Ginger Muscle Rub
Redheads, gingers, auburns, I’m sure we’re all aware by now of how wonderful we all are. Our unique talents stretch as far as stealing souls (in popular opinion) and having superpowers against anaesthesia. And, we can add another magical wonderment to our long list of achievements. Actually, I’m talking about the ginger spice this time, not …
Health: Ginger for Motion Sickness
Those of you redheaded lovelies off on your holly-holidays this summer, I have two words of warning for you: First off, remember your SPF 50! And secondly, if you suffer from motion sickness, a simple dose of ginger could make you feel better. Yep, we know it sounds a bit bizarre, but the ginger spice …
Ginger child put in tanning booth
This has made us feel quite ill. If any of you have seen the news recently, I’m sure you’ll agree. A mother in America has been arrested and is being charged with ‘child endangerment’, for allowing her five-year-old daughter in to a tanning booth. The important point to add here is that her daughter is… …
Health: Sunscreen for Gingers
As fair-skinned gingers, we know only too well how vulnerable we are to the ravishes of that pesky sun! Not only do the sun’s UVA rays pose the dangerous threat of skin cancer, but research shows that 90% of wrinkles are caused by sun exposure and that sun damage is the #1 cause of premature …
Gingers Denied
When people say to me, “Oh I’d love to have hair like yours” and “I bet you were so cute when you were a baby”, what they’re really saying is, “You’re different, which makes you interesting.” They are not, in actual fact, saying that they would like to have your babies, or parent any babies …
Weird and Wonderful Ginger Health
So, you’ve spent most of your life being teased for your pale complexion, unusual hair pigment, and millions of randomly-placed freckles; basically for just being ‘different’. Well, my friend, I’ve got news for you. All those things can benefit your health, apparently. Scientists have recently discovered that our genes are glazed with special superpowers that …
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Be there: 30 Aug – 1 Sep 2013
Ginger of the Month
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