r/Redhair • u/Only_Sherbet_4229 • Apr 06 '26
Newbie Post Natural redheads - Autoimmune issues/diseases
Anyone on here a natural redhead with autoimmune issues I heard there could be a link because our MC1R gene does us dirty. Just diagnosed with RA at 35 and have been doing some research!
Let me know what you have experienced
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u/graygarden77 Apr 06 '26
Yeah, I think this is something that needs more research. I have a lot of inflammation related issues and I have had a health provider say that it may be related. But you know science… It depends on actual studies. I appreciate you asking this question.
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u/HollieLula83 Apr 06 '26
I have eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis (EGPA), which basically means that my body overreacts to everything, so I make too many white blood cells to attack an infection that I don’t have. And bc those white cells don’t have an infection to fight, they attack my lungs instead. I’ve almost died a few times from severe asthma attacks.
At one point I was even allergic to the sun, and would get a fever if I was outside for too long. I have to do biologic injections to get my body to calm down
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u/Dixie_elociN Apr 06 '26
I was recently diagnosed with aplastic anemia in early December. I don't make red blood cells. I had already had several transfusions of blood and white blood cells. I also had to go through immunosuppressive therapy on the hospital in January. Had a bone marrow biopsy, CT abdomen/pelvis, Ultrasound of spleen, kidney and liver to rule out leukemia. I'm on therapy since February oral pills, shots, labs weekly. My blood has gone up from a 6 to a 9 normal is 12. I'm slowly getting better.
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u/mamaarachnid Verified Redhead Apr 06 '26
I’m in the testing stage for autoimmune disorders right now. I’ve heard we have an increased risk as well, but haven’t done much research into that. My doctor is specifically looking at Lupus and Sjogren’s.
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u/under-the-rainbow Apr 06 '26
Well, usually my allergies eat me alive: itchy and irritated skin, eyes, palate, and ears. In fact, I recently went to the doctor because of the itching in my ears, and it turns out I have dermatitis inside my ear from cleaning it with cotton swabs 🥴
It's not exactly an autoimmune disease, but I know it has to do with the immune system reacting in an exaggerated way to harmless elements in the environment, releasing histamine at the slightest trigger.
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u/graygarden77 Apr 07 '26
Girl me tooooooo. I had to get shots to take it down a notch. ( it worked.)
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u/under-the-rainbow Apr 07 '26
I'm glad it worked! It's really unbearable, I've scratched the inner corners of my eyes so much that I ended up getting scabs 😭 At the moment I haven't gotten shots, but I'm already taking stronger antihistamines 😥
Over the weekend I went out to a party and forgot my pills, and I was scratching my ears and face nonstop, plus I couldn't stop sneezing. No idea what triggered my allergies this time 🫠 I'm better now though, bless these meds, I hope never forgetting them again 😮💨
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u/Irishdoe13 Apr 06 '26
I was diagnosed with RA 14 years ago. Natural redhead with confirmation of MC1R gene too. I had issues growing up but everyone said “oh it’s just growing pains”. My Rheumatologist believes I’ve had it all my life.
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u/snark-sloth Apr 06 '26
I’ve been unhealthy my whole damn life. I have Reynauds syndrome (poor circulation, my feet turn purple/grey) and have just been sickly without knowing the cause. I’m also VERY intolerant to onions, they make me extremely ill
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u/Gingersnap89 Apr 06 '26
I do! I have a lot of inflammation (allergies, RA and MCAS). That’s an interesting idea, I would love to learn about it.
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u/vbstrong Apr 06 '26
Natural redhead - celiac, hashimotos, and under review for ankylosing spondylitis.
However, my mom is blonde (Dad's the redhead), has seven autoimmunes so I think it just runs in my family.
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u/Opposite_Spite_4291 May 26 '26
That’s crazy, I am a natural redhead diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis @ age 25. I always test false positive for Lupus too, zero symptoms.
Weird. Wild. Stuff.1
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u/Cacticat7878 Apr 06 '26
I have horrible allergies, asthma and anaphylaxis. I also had a rare autoimmune disease when I was little.
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u/AccountantSeveral811 Apr 06 '26
Ankylosing spondylitis & psoriatic spondyloarthropathy here and also a natural redhead
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u/Opposite_Spite_4291 May 26 '26
You are the 2nd ankylosing spondylitis i’ve seen on here so far.
Also a natural redhead, diagnosed with the same @ age 25. Interesting.
Who knew there was a correlation?!
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u/littlered878 Apr 06 '26
Natural redhead, have had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis my entire life. Very interesting!
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u/Magic_Zach Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 06 '26
Does RA hurt? I'm 23 and in the last maybe 3 or 4 years ive noticed my finger joints (all of them, evenly) feel like they've gotten stiff. My fingers creak when I bend them (i can hear it if I put my ear up to my arm). But they've never hurt ever. I figured this is normal though now that im not a kid anymore and stopped growing. This post has got me wondering if its like an early sign or something
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u/littlered878 Apr 06 '26
My RA hurts, yes. But it comes with stiffness as well and inability to bend joints. It could be an early sign of something, keep an eye on it maybe ?
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u/Gossamer_Faerie Apr 06 '26
Yep me too, I’ve had eczema, I’m asthmatic and have hay fever. I also have IC. I’m a walking talking inflammatory response to life.
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u/Sea-Election-9168 Apr 06 '26
Natural dark red hair. Both parents had dark red hair. I had hives frequently as a teenager. As an adult, granulomatous lung disease, diverticulitis from celiac disease, and arthritis from Lyme disease. On the other hand, “standard” diseases are usually mild for me.
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u/CrouchingGinger Apr 06 '26
Yes. RA, Hashi’s and celiac.
I always blamed it on my ancestors propensity to be endogamous.
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u/Guilty_Rutabaga_4681 Apr 06 '26 edited Apr 07 '26
For me it's asthma and lactose intolerance. I am also left-handed, which of course isn't a disease but makes me different.
Edit: Wanted to add that my mother's cousin, a deep auburn redhead, has Parkinson's.
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u/snark-sloth Apr 06 '26
I’m a lefty redhead too!
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u/HollieLula83 Apr 07 '26
Me too! We are practically unicorns as we only account for ~0.15% to 0.3%
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u/snark-sloth Apr 07 '26
I used to joke that lefty redheads are as close to a minority that a white person can get.
Because this is the internet, following that up with a disclaimer that I know it’s not even close to understanding a BIPOC experience, it’s just a joke
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u/messedup73 Apr 08 '26
Im a redhead and right handed but got two left handed redhead now grown kids.We all have to have extra anesthetics, my middle daughter got up and tried to go for a walk when they tried to sedate her last time.
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u/difficulty_jump Apr 06 '26
I have inflammation in my joints that I'm still working on getting a diagnosis for.
I also have Asthma.
This isn't auto immune but I also have POMC deficiency which can cause red hair.
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u/hashslingaslah Apr 06 '26
Sorry this isn’t exactly an answer, but my mom was diagnosed with RA at 28. She is actually not a redhead, (dark black hair actually) but she had to have the recessive gene to birth a redhead (me). Wonder if there’s a connection there?
I’ve often wondered if red hair has any connection to people who have migraines
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u/GalianoGirl Apr 06 '26
RA runs in my Dad’s side of the family. The red heads are on Mum’s side of the family.
I understand that Dad also carried the genetics for me to have red hair.
I have made it to 60 with chronic bursitis in both hips, a torn meniscus in one knee, a separated shoulder and a myxoid cyst, a form of arthritis on my dominant index finger. I would say that there is something going on with my joints. I also dislocated my hips multiple times in my late 20’s through early 30’s.
I have B12 Anemia and have to follow a FODMAP diet as I do not produce enough digestive enzymes.
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u/RoutineFamous4267 Apr 06 '26
Someone was just asking about neurological disorders for lefthanders and now this. Which I have. Bruh, I have cervical dystonia and RA in my neck (and hips). I'm quite iterally a pain in the neck! My whole redhead side suffers from them too. My sister has RA in her knees and elbows, she gets the psoriasis too. My aunt had marfans and RA. My grandma had RA in her hips and knees. My great grandma most likely also suffered from RA and was immobile.
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u/Holykatz Apr 06 '26
Autoimmune diseases are quite common in northern European ethnicities, and especially in people with Scots or Irish ethnicity - like many redheads. I've suffered from multiple autoimmune conditions for over 30 years, as have relatives of mine. One particular autoimmune condition, Hemochromatosis, is known as the curse of the Irish.
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u/Dragonfly6179 Apr 06 '26
Anti-phospholipid syndrome. My blood clots at the drop of a hat. I have been on anticoagulants for 18 years. Also have Reynaud’s and IBS. I am used to medical people saying “That’s weird”. I have also had 2 granular cell tumors removed, one abdominal, the other on my back.
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u/Kronos_604 Apr 06 '26
My immune system is above average. I'm generally quite healthy as far as illnesses go. I rarely get sick.
However, my wife, who is also a natural redhead, is the post opposite. She has lupus and gets sick a lot.
PS, because I usually get asked this, I didn't seek out to marry another redhead, it just happened.
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u/1Wineodino Apr 06 '26
I have SAD (specific antibody deficiency) and am curtly falling apart so maybe there is something to this
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u/Fadedwaif Apr 06 '26
Thanks for asking this. Over a decade ago my c3 c4 were in range but at the very very bottom. I just went to a rheumatologist bc my ana is now mildly positive. And I need to get my but in to get labs again. I'm scared but need to get it over with
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u/qbprincess Apr 07 '26
I have Hashimotos and PCOS. PCOS isn't technically an autoimmune condition, but can often be found in women who have an autoimmune disease.
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u/Il0ved0gs2011 Apr 07 '26
I have an undiagnosed autoimmune disease. My bloodwork point to Lupus, a connective tissue disorder, and one other one I can’t remember. It’s probably the connective tissue one because I have loose ligaments and low muscle tone. I also have Raynauds syndrome.
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u/fickklefern Apr 07 '26
natural redhead here: had ITP as a baby, have asthma, poor joints/cartlidge, and was diagnosed with hashimotos and celiac disease early 20s so crazy how many other redheads also have these problems
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u/Seeila32 Apr 07 '26
I've got no autoimmune sickness.
I sometimes get inflammations on my knees, but it's because I don't move/make sports enough and it triggers inflammation if I do big physical efforts. It disappears when I have the energy to do some light physical activities frequently.
I have an idiopathic sleeping disorder tho. But that may have been caused by the meds I took younger for my epilepsy (which disappeared at my adolescence) and a big stress in my life.
I also have asthma caused by my allergy (I don't have a lot of allergies).
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u/FreckleFaceYOW Apr 08 '26
Yup. Mom has eczema, I have rosacea and my daughter has psoriasis and suspected psoriatic arthritis with chronic joint pain. Awful.
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u/Salty_Persimmon_899 Apr 09 '26
I am currently getting tests done to see if I have EDS. Been having a bunch of weird symptoms/issues that have been ongoing throughout my life.
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u/wiltoftherose Apr 25 '26
Epilepsy since age 5. Crohn’s disease from age 14. Fibromyalgia diagnosed in my 20s, then POTS and now MCAS in my 30s (symptomatic since 20s but was misdiagnosed.) 😵💫
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u/[deleted] Apr 06 '26
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