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Ten-Year-Old Boy With Rare Condition Sheds His Skin Every Month

Ten-Year-Old Boy With Rare Condition Sheds His Skin Every Month

There is no cure for the super rare condition

Claire Reid

Claire Reid

A little boy sheds his skin every month due to a 'heartbreaking' rare condition that has no cure.

The boy, known only as Jagannath, has lamellar ichthyosis - a super rare condition, which causes the skin to form 'scales', dry out and then shed.

The condition has varying degrees of severity, but Jagannath's is so severe he sheds his skin every four to six weeks.

His skin can become so tight that he isn't able to walk properly, and he uses a stick to help stretch out his limbs to make moving about a little easier.

SWNS

In an attempt to relieve his symptoms, Jagannath, from the Ganjam district of eastern India, bathes himself throughout the day and covers himself in moisturiser every three hours, but despite his best efforts his skin still dries out and sheds.

An unnamed dermatologist who works in the same district as Jagannath and his family, said: "This disease is not treatable, although some doctors say there is a cure."

However, treatment, including creams and medications, is available to help tackle some of the more painful symptoms but, sadly, Jagannath's family can't afford it.

SWNS

Dad Prabhakar Pradhan, who works as a labourer in a paddy field, said: "My son has suffered this disease since childhood, and there is no cure for it.

"I do not have enough money to take him for a treatment and my heart breaks seeing him suffer with this cursed disease every day."

Dr Rakhesh, senior consultant dermatologist at Aster MIMS hospital in Kerala, India, said lamellar ichthyosis is one of the rarest congenital skin conditions.

The condition affects around one out of every 600,000 people, but not everyone will have symptoms as bad as little Jagannath.

SWNS

As well as dry skin and shedding, the condition can also cause numerous other problems, including drying of the eyes as the eyelids become so tight it's difficult to blink; overheating as the scaling on the skin prevents normal sweating; and hair loss.

In some cases, children who have the condition can end up with tight bands of skin around their fingers and toes that can stop the blood circulation to the area.

Featured Image Credit: SWNS

Topics: World News, Health, India