10 Bizarre Skin Diseases You Didn’t Know Existed (Warning Graphic Photos)

<strong>Epidermodysplasia Verruciformis</strong> (also known as Lewandowsky-Lutz dysplasia) “is an extremely rare autosomal recessive genetic hereditary skin disorder associated with a high risk of carcinoma of the skin. It is characterized by abnormal susceptibility to human papillomaviruses (HPVs) of the skin” <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epidermodysplasia_verruciformis" target="_blank">via Wikipedia</a>. Yes, HPV—the dreaded wart inducing STI every American child is warned of in sex ed. Unfortunately for epidermodysplasia verruciformis sufferers, HPV is able to be transmitted in other ways and those become infected with it are prone to growing macules and papules, especially on hands and feet. One of the more famous sufferers of this rare disease is “Tree Man” (pictured above), who is actually an Indonesian man named Dede Koswara.

<strong>Argyria</strong> (or argyrosis), from the Greek “argos” for “silver”, is a condition caused by exposure to too much silver, usually by purposeful ingestion. When a person ingests a large amount of silver, the silver rapidly dissolves in the acidic environment of the stomach and is then able to enter areas of the body on the cellular level. This enables the silver to enter skin cells and dye them a bluish-silver, which is the most notable feature of someone suffering from argyria. As to why a person would ingest silver, “silver therapy” is considered a form of alternative medicine that has been marketed as a substitute to more conventional antibiotics and antibacterials. There is no medical merit for these claims, but ingestible silver, labeled as “colloidal silver”, is still available for purchase today. Argyria is irreversible.

<strong>Neurofibromatosis Type I</strong>, formerly known as von Recklinghausen disease, is a tumor based disorder caused by chromosomal genetic mutations. It causes tumors all along the nervous system and is often accompanied by scoliosis (spine curvature). It can also cause musculoskeletal issues, tumors around the eyes that lead to blindness, learning disabilities, and, most commonly, cancer, and depression or social anxiety do to physical appearance. There is no known cure for “NF 1” and they are prone to live shorter than average lives.

<strong>Dermatographia</strong> (also known as “skin-writing”) is an inherited form of uticaria (hives/rash) that afflicts 4-5% of the population (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermatographic_urticaria" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a>). When a person has dermatographia, their skin is very sensitive and will become inflamed from the slightest provocation, including being rubbed or even slapped. It will eventually return back to normal in most cases. The cause of dermatographia is unknown other than it is histamine-related, and it is a lifelong disease that sometimes subsides as sufferers age. The above left photo is of dermatographia sufferer and artist Ariana Page Russell, who uses her sensitive skin as a canvas to create masterpieces. You can read more about that <a href="http://www.visualnews.com/2012/05/14/dermatographia-beautiful-drawings-on-special-skin/" target="_blank">here</a>.

<strong>Ichthyosis</strong>, from Ancient Greek for “fish”, is a heterogeneous (unrelated parts) family of about 28 known skin disorders (<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyosis">Wikipedia</a>) that all resemble fish scales due to inflicting the sufferer with extremely cracked, dry skin. There are various levels of severity, from the mild ichthyosis vulgaris which is basically chronic, flaking skin, to the life-threatening harlequin ichthyhosis, which causes keratin thickening in fetal skin (above right) so badly that the skin can’t shed fast enough. People born with harlequin ichthyosis are born with such thick skin, it’s almost like an armor. Eventually the skin falls off as the baby grows, but they are prone to deadly bacterial infections if their skin cracks. Most don’t make it past infancy.

<strong>Hypertrichosis</strong>, from New Latin for “super growth of hair” (but also known as Ambras syndrome or werewolf syndrome), is normally a congenital (born with) disease, but it can also be acquired from rare side effects from pharmaceutical drugs, usually drugs associated with cancer or eating disorder treatments. There are two kinds of hypertrichosis: generalized and localized. Generalized afflicts the entire body, while localized afflicts focused areas (see top left picture). There is no known permanent cure for hypertrichosis, but some sufferers of localized hypertrichosis opt for monthly laser hair removal.

<strong>Vitiligo</strong> is probably most well known from Michael Jackson, who claimed the depigmentation of his skin was from treatments in response to it. Not much is known about the causes of vitiligo, with some research suggesting it is an autoimmune disease, while others suggest either neural or viral causes. Whatever the case, it afflicts between 1-2% of the population and is more noticeable in people with higher melanin levels. There are various treatments available depending on the severity of the vitiligo.

<strong>Tungiasis</strong> is a skin disease caused by inflammation when infected by the female ectoparasite <em>Tunga penetrans</em> flea, also known as the jigger. Tungiasis causes painful skin lesions, identified by a black dot at the center of a swollen, red lump. It then spreads from there. em>Tunga penetrans</em> fleas are native to the West Indies, but have spread to Africa and Latin America. If the lesions they cause are left untreated, gangrene can occur.

<strong>Porphyrias</strong> “porphyrias are a group of rare inherited or acquired disorders of certain enzymes that normally participate in the production of porphyrins and heme (the pigment in red blood cells). They manifest with either neurological complications or skin problems or occasionally both” <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porphyria" target="_blank">via Wikipedia</a>. When skin is affected, it is manifested in photosensitivity, blisters, itching, and swelling.

<strong>Blaschko's Lines</strong> “are skin lines invisible under normal conditions. They become apparent when some diseases of the skin or mucosa manifest themselves according to these patterns. They follow a "V" shape over the back, "S" shaped whorls over the chest, stomach, and sides, and wavy shapes on the head” <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blaschko%27s_lines" target="_blank">via Wikipedia</a>. There is no known cure.