Melanin protects the skin from harmful UV irradiation of the sun. Red headed people have a different form of melanin called pheomelanin. Pheomelanin expression increases UV induced Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS). The expression of pheomelanin puts red heads at a higher risk of melanoma than the rest of the population. It may also affect immunotherapy response. The pheomelanin risk for melanoma is independent of and in addition to the risk associated with sun exposure.