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Replica Skin Mask Helps Man Who Is Allergic To The Sun

Replica Skin Mask Helps Man Who Is Allergic To The Sun

Alex is to step into the sunshine for the first time since he was a kid - thanks to a second skin mask to protect him from UV rays.

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Let's be honest: most people absolutely live for the sunshine. But could you imagine what your life would have been like if you couldn't enjoy that experience? Well, that is certainly the case for one LAD.

Alex is a 25-year-old British man who suffers from xeroderma pigmentosum, which is an inherited condition that means he's very sensitive to UV rays from the sun.

You might be wondering, 'how sensitive are we talking?' So, Alex's face was essentially 'fried' when he was taken out in the sun as a child. He hasn't been outside on a sunny day since the incident, but even on days where the rays aren't that strong he has to wear a cumbersome mask and protective visor.

You'll be happy to hear, though, that Alex doesn't have to suffer much longer thanks to the help of Zoe Laughlin, who has helped to create a 'second skin' mask for him. It's rare that you can say 'what a time to be alive' and mean it, but I reckon this is one of those rare occasions.

Naturally, its main function is to protect him from the rays, but by using a special camera his face was captured thousands of times and it allowed for his likeness to be used in the final build of the mask.

BBC

His journey up until this point has been extraordinary - and it's now been turned into a BBC Two show, as part of the Big Life Fix series.

It means a lot to the Alex - and his family is equally as excited about what the mask can do for him. In fact, his mum Anna wasn't shy about expressing her feelings towards Zoe's achievement with the mask.

"I'm blown away, I'm glad you tried something that hasn't been done before," she said. "Even in my wildest dreams I wouldn't have dreamed it up."

Alex added: "I didn't think it would be possible."

Well, Alex, it is possible - and it's finally become a reality. A far cry from the days when his parents were told that he might need to 'live by night'.

It's not the kind of talk you want to hear from someone, is it? Of course, Anna did everything in her power to stop that from becoming the case, saying that she 'refused to lock him away'. And now here we are.

For those of you that want to know more about Alex's experience - and that will be a lot of people - The Big Fix can be watched on Thursdays at 8pm on BBC Two.

Words by Adnan Riaz

Featured Image Credit: BBC

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