Scary truth for pale, freckly redheadsEd Sheeran and Prince Harry best remember to slip, slop, slap when in the sun. "It also underlines that it isn't just people with red hair who need to protect themselves from too much sun." MICHELLE MARSH The MC1R gene is not only found in people with pale skin. Having genes that give you red hair, pale skin and freckles increases your risk of developing skin cancer as much as an extra 21 years' exposure to the sun, researchers said on Tuesday. Their study found gene variants that produce red hair and freckly, fair skin were linked to a higher number of mutations that lead to skin cancers.

Source: Stuff July 12, 2016 21:45 UTC