Woman grows fingernails all over body instead of hair
She produces 12 times more of skin cells in each hair follicle
Doctors have managed to remove hard, spiny growths from follicles on her head.
A young woman in Baltimore, US, has been suffering from a bizarre skin condition since 2009 that causes fingernails to grow from her hair follicles all over the body.
After a series of tests and treatment, doctors have no cure yet. In fact, according to medics treating her at Johns Hopkins Medical Centre in Baltimore, Shanyna Isom is the only person in the world to be suffering from this bizarre condition.
Her woes started five years back, when she had a bad asthma attack. The then law student, Isom was rushed to the emergency room where she was administered steroids.
She reportedly developed an allergic reaction to the steroids and her skin began to itch uncontrollably. Her condition only worsened despite being given allergy drugs and Benadryl.
Her mother says, the ‘nails would grow so long and come out and regrow themselves’. “They are hard to touch and stick to you,” she added.
A series of tests including a bone marrow biopsy was done, but all remained inconclusive.
Now, doctors Johns Hopkins Medical Centre say Isom produces 12 times the number of skin cells in each hair follicle. So instead of growing hair, the follicles were producing human nails. They suspected that it could be a because of a vitamin deficiency, or because her skin wasn’t getting enough oxygen.
With the new treatment plan her condition has improved a bit. Through intensive treatment, they have managed to remove the hard, spiny growths from the follicles on her head.
