Meet Majibar Rehman Malik from West Bengal, India, who is suffering from exfoliative dermatitis, a rare condition that affects only 1 in 100,000 people each year. Malik’s body develops life-threatening inflammations weekly, earning him the moniker ‘Snake Man’ due to the peeling of his skin.
This 25-year-old man’s ordeal began just a few days after his birth. He experiences weekly skin shedding, which results in itchy red scaling and spotting. Consequently, he faces body temperature regulation issues, increased metabolic rate, and other life-threatening infections, to the extent that blinking becomes an ordeal.
Malik’s condition was first noticed by his family when they saw red spots on his body a few days post his birth, leading them to seek medical help. However, due to the lack of knowledge about his condition, healthcare providers referred them to a more advanced hospital. Unfortunately, the high medical expenses were beyond the family’s means, and Malik’s treatment could not commence.
Malik’s struggles weren’t confined to his health issues. In primary school, children were frightened by his appearance, prompting the school administration to expel him. Malik recalls the isolation he felt, “Children were scared of me. Especially during my primary school years, my peers would run away upon seeing me, leading to the school’s decision to expel me.”
Despite the widespread lack of knowledge about his condition, Malik is determined to raise awareness. He has started an Instagram account to document his daily life and connect with others facing similar challenges. Through this platform, Malik hopes to build a community and foster understanding about his rare condition.
