Chinese man branded 'bark man' due to rare skin condition

Rare medical conditions can leave people with physical deformities and one that causes a person’s skin to resemble a tree has been reported from several countries in the past few years. While the condition can be life altering, fear and stigma stemming from lack of awareness around it only makes it worse.

For nearly six decades, 58-year-old Li Xitian from China’s Henan province has been suffering from a skin disorder causing his body to resemble a tree and has been dubbed as ‘bark man’ by neighbours. The hysteria about infection about the disease is such that he has been forced to live in isolation by his neighbours.

Li says it started when a hairdresser cut his scalp and released mysterious pus back in the 50s. Following that accident the condition that affected his head went on to spread all the way across his back and has now infected his legs.

His condition is being described as an extreme case of psoriasis and while standard forms of psoriasis can be treated, there is no cure for this. He has visited doctors across China but they have only been able to manage symptoms rather than find effective diagnosis.

Experts suggest that while it is difficult to find a cure, there may be ways to help him by improving Li’s skin to some extent and making life better for him. The government is also subsidising his expenses to help Li lead a better life.

As of now Li has to live a life of isolation in his native village where locals even built a special house to maintain a distance from him.