Man with skin as rough as TREE BARK lives with agonising disease that makes his body ‘crack’ – The Sun

Li Xitian has developed thick, crusty patches of skin over his head, shoulders and back

FOR almost 40 years Li Xitian has suffered from an incurable skin condition that makes his skin as rough as tree bark.

Li, 58, is believed to be suffering from an extreme case of psoriasis a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales.

AsiaWire

AsiaWire

His crusty, bark-like skin has spread from his head to his back and down his legs.

His body now cracks as the thick, rough skin continues to spread over his entire body.

The skin condition can start at any age but is more common in adults under 35.

The patches of skin normally appear on the elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but can appear anywhere on the body.

Most people are only affected with small patches.

In some cases, the patches can be itchy or sore.

AsiaWire

There is no known cure for psoriasis,but a range of treatments can improve symptoms and the appearance of skin patches.

In most cases, the first treatment used will be a topical treatment, such as vitamin D analogues or topical corticosteroids.

Topical treatments are creams and ointments applied to the skin.

AsiaWire

Li, fromWeihui city, in Central Chinas Henan Province, claims his condition was triggered by a hairdresser who accidentally cut his scalp in the 1950s.

Li has spent more than 11,350 trying to find a cure for his condition but doctors have been unable to relieve his symptoms.

Theyhave also been unable to find a link between his condition and his hairdresser theory.

Li, who never married, was built a special home inside his village so he could live in isolation.

The villagers have dubbed him bark man and, while they claim they are used to seeing Li walk around their neighbourhood, they fear his condition could spread to others.

Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, flaky, crusty patches of skin covered with silvery scales.

These patches normally appear on your elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but can appear anywhere on your body.

Most people are only affected with small patches. In some cases, the patches can be itchy or sore.

It affects around two per cent of the UK population.

Why does it happen?

People with psoriasis have anincreased production of skin cells.

Skin cells are normallymade and replaced every three to four weeks, but in psoriasis this process only lasts about three to seven days.

The resulting build-up of skin cells is what creates the patches associated with psoriasis.

It is thought to be a problem with the immune system and can run in families.

How is it treated?

Theres no cure for psoriasis, but a range of treatments can improve symptoms and the appearance of skin patches.

In most cases, the first treatment used will be a topical treatment, such as vitamin D analogues or topical corticosteroids.

Topical treatments are creams and ointments applied to the skin.

If these arent effective, or your condition is more severe, a treatment called phototherapy may be used.

Phototherapy involves exposing your skin to certain types of ultraviolet light.

In severe cases, where the above treatments are ineffective, systemic treatments may be used. These are oral or injected medicines that work throughout the whole body.

Source: NHS

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Man with skin as rough as TREE BARK lives with agonising disease that makes his body 'crack' - The Sun