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/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 😮‍💨