Skin disorders can vary greatly in symptoms and severity. They can also be temporary or permanent and depending on the condition, be painless or painful. Some have situational causes and are acquired over the course of life, while others may be genetic. While some skin conditions are minor, other can be life-threatening. Here, six of the rarest and most bizarre skin conditions are listed. 1. Argyria – Blue skin syndrome Argyria, is not derived from a genetic disorder. Instead, it results from the prolonged contact with or ingestion of silver salts. It is characterised by grey to grey-black colouring of the skin and mucous membranes produced by silver deposition, reminiscent of a real life Smurf. As such, workers in the silver industry, electroplating solutions, and photographic processing are most vulnerable. Patients on colloidal silver dietary supplements, prescribed for AIDS, diabetes mellitus, and herpetic infections are also vulnerable. 2. Blaschko’s lines – Stripy humans Blaschko's Lines on the back of a patient. PC: Anatomic Dead Space On the surface of everyone’s skin lie normally invisible stripes. However, a range of certain skin conditions - acquired, congenital, and genetic - can result in such stripes being visible. These stripes originally described by Dr. Alfred Blaschko in 1901, take the shape of a “V” over the upper spine, an “S” over the abdomen, an inverted “U” stretching from the breast to the upper arm, and runs perpendicular up and down the arms and legs. On the head and neck, they too are present, but in a lesser defined manner. 3. Vitiligo – White patches on skin Winnie Harlow, a top model, suffers from Vitiligo. PC: The Odyssey Vitiligo is characterised by white patches of skin appearing on any parts of the body. The underlying mechanism is due to the melanocytes in the skin being destroyed. It can also affect the mucous membranes and even the eyes. However, what causes vitiligo remains a mystery; it is hypothesised that it may be an autoimmune disease – where the immune system mistakenly attacks the melanocytes. It is also suspected to be genetic. Celebrities suffering from vitiligo include Michael Jackson and Winnie Harlow, a top model. 4. Morgellons disease – Strange strings growing out of sores Microscopic view of the fibre-like filaments growing from sores. PC: Morgellons-Research Morgellons disease is perhaps one of the most mysterious skin diseases. Its cause is yet unknown, and is diagnosed with its iconic sores, coupled with crawling sensations on and under the skin, and fibre-like filaments emerging from the sores. Some say the filaments are wisps of cotton thread which originated from clothing and bandages, while others say are a by-product of an infectious process. In addition to physiological effects, mentally, patients report an increased difficulty in concentrating, together with short term memory loss. 5. Erythropoietic protoporphyria – Hypersensitivity to sunlight Chronic skin lesions of EPP. PC: M Lecha, H Puy, JC Deybach.doi:10.1186/1750-1172-4-19 Erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is an inherited metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency in the enzyme ferrochelatase (FECH). Because of this, excessive amounts of protoporphyrin accumulate in the bone marrow, blood plasma, and red blood cells. This results in a hypersensitivity of the skin to sunlight and some artificial light, such as fluorescent lights (photosensitivity). Being exposed to light, the skin becomes itchy and red and some individuals experience a burning sensation. The areas that are most affected are on the hands, arms, and face. In some serious cases, this disorder would even affect their liver and gallbladder function. There are at least six other types of porphyria, with various symptoms differing. 6. Harlequin ichthyosis – Dry and tough skin 18-year old Hunter Steinitz has a milder form of harlequin ichthyosis PC: Daily Mail A congenital and genetic disorder, infants with harlequin ichthyosis have very hard, thick skin covering most of their bodies – characterised by large, diamond shaped plates separated by deep cracks. These abnormalities can affect anywhere, even the shape of the eyelids, nose, mouth, and ears, and limit movement of the arms and legs. In severe cases, it might result in breathing difficulties and respiratory failure. With this disorder, infants would experience an excessive loss of fluids, and develop life-threatening infections – as such, the fatality rate for newborns with this disorder is exceptionally high. Besides harlequin ichthyosis, other notable ichthyosis are: epidermolytic ichthyosis, characterised by redness, scales on the skin, especially around large joints, blistering caused by infection, and lifelong scaling; Ichthyosis en confetti, characterised by red skin speckled with spots of pale, normal skin cells; and lamellar ichthyosis, a congenital condition where a baby is born with a tight, clear sheath covering their skin. Source
