(Image source from: Meet 'Snake Boy' who sheds his skin after every two days})

An Indonesian teenager lives with an unusual condition. His skin sheds after every two days due to which people have dubbed him as 'Snake Boy'.

Ari Wibowo has to soak his body in water after every hour and apply moisturising lotion to his skin. Failure to do so would leave him with hardened skin that leave him immobile.

The 16-year old, who sheds every 41 hours, is suffering from Erythroderma, or ‘red man syndrome’, according to Indonesian doctors. The local doctors say they do not have the resources to treat Ari’s medical condition that gives him an extraordinary appearance.

Photographer Nurcholis Anhari Lubis, who is documenting the teenagers condition says the boy looks ‘scaly like a snake’.

His condition is sad as he was not born normal. Ari has scaly skin all over his body, which look like a severe burns case right from the sole of his feet up to his head, said Lubis. If Ari doesn’t moisturise or soak his skin in water, it will shrivel and harden up like a sculpture and he will not be able to move.

Although his conditions are difficult, Ari and his family are determined to lead a normal life, but the ignorance of the local village makes it hard for them.

Mr Lubis also revealed that Ari is lonely as he has trouble making friends. Besides schools are not willing to give him admission fearing his illness to be contagious.

Not only that Ari’s mother has to bear with Indonesian superstitious accusations. The locals say she had tortured lizards during pregnancy which caused his condition. According to Indonesian superstition if a pregnant woman  mistreats an animal the child will resemble that animal after birth.

(Picture Source: metro.co.uk)

(AW: Pratima Tigga)