Red for danger: the effects of red hair in surgical practice
BMJ 2010; 341 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.c6931 (Published 09 December 2010) Cite this as: BMJ 2010;341:c6931
All rapid responses
Please beware of generalization and stereotypical labels...Do Blondes
have more fun ? Are Blondes stupid?
I'm a placid redhead. With no keloid scar tissue. I have a very high
pain threshold and have never needed drugs for anything, including a root
canal and the birth of our seven children. ( Although I was told by a
consultant obstetrician that because I am a redhead, I would haemorage
wildly during childbirth.)
Absolute poppycock ~ I have had seven home births, with never more
than a three hour labour ~ and was cooking breakfast just one hour after
each birth.
Okay ~ I do need sunblock or I look like a parboiled lobster :O)
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Could this also explain why I found entonox next to useless when I
was in labour? And I can still remember my dentist's entire conversation
during my wisdom teeth extraction, despite the midazolam? Or are these an
extrapolation too far?
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As a redhead myself I read the article with interest. Another point
to raise regarding redheads is the obstetric challenges they bring with
them. The wise midwives would always warn me of the redhead in labour, and
through anecdotal and obsevational evidence I do have to agree with them;
the chance of a post partum haemorrhage or third degree tear seems to be
much higher. Let's just say I would think twice before a homebirth!
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Now I know why my dentist has to give me more local anaesthetic than
he usually expects to give. I am a red head not just a wuss!
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Cunningham et al dismiss the possibility that we in the surgical
community need fear the red-head, although of course we may all be a bit
nervous of their well known emotional potential! However, the authors seem
to have completely overlooked the one surgical area where this colour hair
certainly SHOULD give cause for pause. For most plastic surgeons, the
appearance of a red-head in the consultation room strikes fear into the
heart. They have a widely accepted genetic tendency to produce troublesome
hypertrophic scar responses and not infrequently keloids as well. This
problem has assumed greater significance with Govt encouragement to
general practitioners to retain 'minor' surgical procedures within the
community. Most plastic surgeons are now seeing increasing numbers of
cries for help with keloids resulting from the excision of minor lesions
where it might have been better to advise the patient to leave well alone.
And they're very tough to deal with!
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Red heads vindicated!
I was delighted to read the paper by Jonathan Barry, BMJ
2010;341:c6931, refuting some of the prejudices against red heads. Those
of a ginger predisposition are one of the last discriminated against
tribes. I enjoyed the description of Boudica as being "tall and
terrifying in appearance...a great mass of red hair...over her shoulders".
I wonder if this also applies to red headed surgeons! As one of Jon's
trainers, I hope my influence helped to direct him in his defence of red
heads. A great mass of red hair certainly fits, but sadly I cannot claim
tall, and I hope not terrifying. I am the proud father of a brunet
daughter. I am sure Jon is equally proud to perpetuate the red headed
tribe.
There is a Figure to illustrate this, which I will send by email as
instructed.
Competing interests: No competing interests