Climate change could wipe out red hair

Follow Y7 Lifestyle on Twitter: @y7lifestyle

As if they didn't have enough to worry about already, redheads could become climate change's next victims.

A geneticist from Scotland, the home of the redhead, has told media in the UK that he believes that the changing climate will reduce the prevalence of red hair.

The Independent reports that Dr Alistair Moffat claims red hair is a natural adaptation to the climate in northern Europe.

"The reason for light skin and red hair is that we do not get enough sun and we have to get all the Vitamin D we can,” said Dr Moffatt, who is the managing director of Galashiels-based ScotlandsDNA.

"If the climate is changing and it is to become more cloudy or less cloudy then this will affect the gene. If it was to get less cloudy and there was more sun, then yes, there would be fewer people carrying the gene,” he argued.

Between 1 and 2 per cent of the world’s population have red hair, making it the world's rarest hair colour.

Scotland has the highest proportion of redheads, with 13 per cent of the Scottish population sporting ginger hair. In all, it's believed that 40 per cent of Scots carry the recessive red hair gene.

Ireland is next on the list, with 10 per cent of Irish people blessed with red hair.

While red hair is believed to allow people in areas of low sunlight (like Scotland and Ireland) to maximise Vitamin D production, it is associated with a higher risk of skin cancer.

Are you a redhead? Let us know at the Y7 Lifestyle Facebook page.

Related:

Ginger-haired model gets last laugh
Nicole Kidman: Beauty evolution
10 hair secrets to steal from Grandma