The Cellar - March 13, 2007: Horrid skin condition

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- - March 13, 2007: Horrid skin condition (http://cellar.org/showthread.php?t=13555)

March 13, 2007: Horrid skin condition

http://cellar.org/2007/EasternEurope...Condition1.jpg

Spacecow finds this really bizarre one at the blog of radio station WFMU. The story:

Quote:

A friend of mine has a relative who is a missionary in Eastern Europe. He recently shared photographs and the story of a man he is caring for, who has an extremely bizarre skin condition. The man has keratin-like matter growing out of the skin on hands and feet, which started when he was young, and very slowly continues to spread and grow. The areas begin as skin lesions, and the matter sprouts from those spots. The growths are very difficult to remove, and the man has so far just had to learn to live with it. There are a few medical precedents to this man's case, but nothing is certain until more tests are done. In the meantime, the missionary is helping to make life easier for the man.

The condition is described as possibly being "Lewandowsky-Lutz syndrome":

Quote:

A generalized skin disease characterised by multiple papillomavirus-induced scaly macules anywhere on the skin and papules on the back of the hand. The disease is considered to be a precancerous form of epithelial nevi. At 20-30 years lesions which have been exposed to sunlight are likely to develop into malignity and to Morbus Bowen or Bowen’s carcinoma and then into squamous cell carcinoma. The general condition of the patient is good. Affects both sexes. Onset at any age, but usually in childhood, with more rapid development. Probably an autosomal recessive trait.

http://cellar.org/2007/EasternEurope...Condition2.jpg

http://cellar.org/2007/EasternEurope...Condition4.jpg

http://cellar.org/2007/EasternEurope...Condition6.jpg

There goes my lunch. :right:

That pic reminds me of this.

:eek:

(note to self-when the headline reads "horrid skin condition", DON'T OPEN IT!!!)

:vomit:

Dude. It's lunch time on the East Coast.

OK. I closed the window and finished my lunch. For some reason it was the foot picture that grossed me out the most. The others were so alien that they didn't quite register as gross.

I feel for this poor guy. Not only does he have to live with this affliction, it's pre-cancerous and is likely to kill him.

Hopefully these photos shooting across the web will result in some dermatologist somewhere taking care of this guy for the bragging rights.

I'd cut off my hands.

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt (Post 322717)

Hopefully these photos shooting across the web will result in some dermatologist somewhere taking care of this guy for the bragging rights.

That was initially pretty hard to look at let alone work on but dermatologists must be hardened to all sorts of things.

The guy looks pretty fit, like he does physical work, but I can't imagine he has a lot of functionality left in his hands.

I wonder how long it took from the first sign to this mess? Also, did he try cutting them off in the beginning?

Obviously, somebody must be caring for him, wonder if he's married? Imagine having that happen to your parent, knowing it's hereditary. :eek:
Would you have kids?

That's scary--it's so bad it looks like it can't possibly be real.

The link said that about a decade ago he burned off some that were on his feet, and they didn't come back. He had that treatment about a decade ago, and let it go for a decade until it got to this point and the missionary found him. I wonder why he wouldn't keep cutting and cauterizing the things if it was successful. Even if that procedure was painful, it has to be better than living like this.

how the heck did he get the sweater on? I wonder what super powers came with the affliction? and what title? Barnicle Boy? The Tickler?

Having suffered from a chronic and debilitating skin condition for 30 years, I have nothing but empathy for the gentleman. The pain and embarrassment from this is overwhelming. This man needs your compassion, not your jokes.

I don't think either will affect him one way or the other, though. :headshake