Rare disease causes young woman’s skin to turn red and eyelids ‘inverted’

A resident of Malmö, Sweden, has been diagnosed with a rare condition that causes the skin to appear red like a burn and the eyelids to “turn inside out”.

Nathalie Richert, 23, has a rare type of ichthyosis that affects her entire body, leaving her scaly and extremely dry. According to the British portal The Mirror, she says she shocked doctors when she was born almost purple.

“It was very difficult for my mother when I was born because neither she nor the doctors knew what was ‘the problem’ with me,” she says.

Nathalie says she’s since learned to live with the symptoms, but is still the victim of pranks and the “stares” of strangers on the street.

“I was born purple and bright. Doctors initially thought that this color was due to my thin skin or lack of oxygen. I started bleeding when the nurses held me and even in diapers,” she reports.

The young woman remembers being called a “tomato” and reinforces how difficult it is to live with the condition. “I was even told I shouldn’t be alive.”

She says she went to a water park with her school when she was 10, and eventually her teacher told her that the staff had received complaints from guests that she had been there. “They were uncomfortable getting in the same pool as me, so I wasn’t allowed in.”

The disease not only causes emotional barriers, but also produces painful symptoms. Nathalie explains that the pain makes it difficult to perform basic tasks, such as taking a shower. The skin is also so dry that the dead parts are “peeled off”. Other side effects include cracked skin, stiff joints and swollen eyelids, and extreme fatigue.

There are different types of ichthyosis. In the Swedish example, the body itself improves the treatment of the disease. Therefore, he still has “normal” skin spots on his body.

“My eyelids are often turned inside out because of my dry and tight skin. They get so dry and so wet that I have to apply gel every morning and before bed to keep them hydrated.”

Finally, Nathalie points out that she has learned to love her own body and accept herself as she is, despite the difficulties. “As I get older I start to feel more confident and gradually accepting my skin. I don’t know anything different so I just try to live my life to the fullest and be as positive as I can.”