‘Human snake’ Girl Sheds Her Skin Every Two Months Because Of Ultra-Rare Condition
An Indian girl identified as Shalini Yadav, 16, who suffers from Erythroderma, a condition that dries out the skin, has been kicked out of school because her appearance scares her classmates. It’s understood that the teenager sheds her skin every six weeks due to the rare condition also known as ‘red man syndrome’.
It’s understood that Shalini Yadav needs to soak her body in water every hour and smear it in moisturiser every three hours to prevent it from seizing up and flaking off. Sadly, her family of eight cannot afford the cream needed. Shalini’s mother said:
‘Shalini is suffering from the disease since childhood.
‘We saw several doctors but none of them could cure her and her condition has continued to get worse.
‘I feel so helpless when I see her skin coming off, causing excruciating pain to my child.
‘This disease is not killing her but taking her life bit by bit. We have no idea where to go to and who to consult.’
The mother who is a care-giver in a state-funded community centre, continued:
‘It is better to die than living a life of misery.’
Her father Rajbahadur, a daily wage worker, said: ‘It’s really sad because she was not born normally and has scaly skin all over her body.
‘It is similar to being severely burnt, from the sole of her feet to her head.’
As for Shalini, she is saddened by the fact that everybody in her family is suffering also because of her condition. She said:
‘I wanted to study but they threw me out of school as the children would get scared by seeing my face.
‘Everybody in the family is suffering because of my medical condition.
‘But what is my fault? What sin did I commit to be cursed with such a disease. I want to live.
