March 13, 2007: Horrid skin condition

[Undertoad]

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

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":

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.