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New England Journal of Medicine, copyright 2012
This man's deep skin folds that resemble the surface of the brain are the result of a rare condition called cutis verticis gyrata.
The strange folds and furrows covering a Brazilian man's entire scalp was neither a funky new look nor a hipster trend. Rather the 21-year-old's bizarre looking scalp with its deep skin folds in a pattern said to resemble the surface of the brain is a sign of a rare medical condition known as cutis verticis gyrata.
In this week's New England Journal of Medicine, two Brazilian doctors describe this young man's case and share a picture of its odd appearance. When he was 19, the skin on his scalp started to change. It grew thicker, forming many soft, spongy ridges and narrow ruts.
Even his hair had an unusual configuration. It was normal in the furrows but sparser over the folds as is common for this strange scalp condition. No doubt, visits to the barber shop as well as washing his squishy scalp and combing his hair were peculiar experiences.
Despite the extent of his scalp affected, "the patient did not have the habit of covering his head," with a hat, for instance, says Dr. Karen Schons a dermatologist at the Hospital Universitario de Santa Maria, who examined the patient and co-authored the case study. In fact, the case study reports that "the condition did not bother him cosmetically."
Cutis verticis gyrata occurs much more commonly in men, and it typically develops not long after puberty occurs. Doctors aren't sure exactly what causes the scalp changes that lead to its weird appearance.
In this Brazilian man's case, no one else in his family had the condition, and he did not have any symptoms because of it. He was intellectually impaired and had performed poorly in school, but this was not linked with the skin folds and furrows on his scalp.
In fact, his doctors found he had no symptoms of neurological or psychiatric disorders, even though cutis verticis gyrata has sometimes been associated with cognitive disabilities or other brain-related disorders, such as schizophrenia and seizures.
"It's a benign and essentially aesthetic condition," explains Schons. Although his head probably attracted some curious stares, this man wasn't self-conscious about it. He needed no treatment.
Schons says there are surgical methods that can correct some of the disfigurement, but it may not be a good option for patients with extensive scalp involvement.
Doctors saw the young man a year after he was diagnosed, and his scalp looked the same and he continued to have no health concerns or concerns about his appearance.
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Leave a Comment:
Shel Silverstein:
I thought that I had wavy hair
Until I shaved. Instead,
I find that I have straight hair
And a very wavy head.
I did not even think of that rhyme. Thanks for making me remember and restoring my faith in humanity (kind of).
Bet he scared the hell out of the barber at his first hair cut.
I hardly think such a thing would have scared a barber who would have been used to discovering nasty weird moles, lumps and bumps, even perhaps lice in his days.But compared to what folks do now days with piercings in their faces, ears cheeks, lips, eye brows and such, now that would more likely make a barber nervous. I am so glade this man is unruffled by his appearance. Perhaps one day, in the future our descendants will have learned to accept the differences and unique individuality which make up the human family tree. Until then, we adults and parents can help teach our children by example how to be more compassionate and loving towards all people.No matter what makes them dissimilar or unusual from us.
I think I see the the Virgin Mary or maybe it is Jesus.
LOL, clarkjoebob
What foolish comments!
Unless a medical treatment can restore this person's head to a normal appearance, this individual has a physical condition that he must live with. That he refuses to cover his head or hide from the public shows that he has a great amount of confidence...probably more confidence than many people who spend bundles of money on their appearance.
looks like one of those Chinese dogs.... thought my son in law had a big bean....wryobsever sorry didn't see your post... Walker don't be so serious...
if ya look at it a certain way...looks like homer simpson...kind'a sort'a...
Well, at the very least, the guy has a built-in Halloween costume!
He ought to keep it shaved and have some "blood vessels" tattooed on it. And, if he's got the money, have a couple of bladders and a little air pump installed, so he can make it pulsate.
And as for confidence? Maybe he just has no choice. Look up "Scheuermann's kyphosis". That's what I live with. Because I have to. Confidence has nothing to do with it. It's live with it or don't live.
Love Shel Silverstein. "The Giving Tree" is my fav :o)
That is gross! Not because of the rare disease but because he has horrible dandruff! LATHER. RINSE. REPEAT! My goodness!
No, it IS confidence. Otherwise he'd grow out enough hair to cover it.
reminds me of Kanye West.
At first you think it is brain matter then realize nope, just squishy useless fat.
It's not confidence that he doesn't cover it. It's Brazil, no one gives a damn.
Looks like a Chinese dog of some sort...
You don't suppose his brain and hair got mixed up in their order ? He could have a stroke or get alzheimers if the barber clipped him. Conversly, he could become Einstein if he took Rogaine !
Optic and anal nerves got tangled up...
jim: If a bald guy mixed Rogaine with Viagra and rubbed it on his head, would he end up with hair like Don King?
You're right - it resembles my Chinese Shar Pei. Maybe they should call it Shar Pei Syndrome.
CnR Good One!
I thought that this was from years of having cornrows when I was an infant; but apparently not. Looks like Mom is off the hook.
Just different than what we are used to seeing around. I just hope people don't try to ridicule him.]
We all have something a bit different with our bodies.
There was a guy who worked at the Circle K in Glendale, Arizona whose head looked just like this. Now i know what its called, he seemed like a nice enough guy too. Im sure there are people out there who will ridicule people for just about anything. Too sad
I worked with a guy for several years in northern CA that had this same thing. He was from Ecuador....or El Savadore....one of those South American countries. A former soldier down there. Helluva' nice & normal person other than the back of his head looked like this. Rolando always kept his head shaved, and we all used to joke with him about being 'the man with 2 brains'.........
I have a friend with this same affliction plus he has a bizarre sense of humor. He has light colored hair, gets it cut short, goes over it with blue hair coloring, before it is dry or "sets" he wipes over his head with a wet towel leaving only blue dye in the crevices, goes over his head with yellow and lets it set. Green in the crevices Yellow on the folds Goes to the Packer Game. Does look really cool I will have to say plus people ask him at the game How he gets That Look for they want it, not knowing his affliction. He laughs it off and says its secret.
Are you sure you are not looking at a Sharpai dog ?
damn, air - you took the words right out of my mouth!
Its definitely unique!
Seeing as how the brain is the all be of all we... I wonder if we shared (T)his condition generally speaking, how this may affect the human population? -A.K.A. 'Orson'- (-:-) xoox
This is not an uncommon sight in NYC.
It's not here in the Four Corners, either-- didn't realize it actually had a name tho!!
Does his forehead by chance look like a bagel?
Ha! I saw that too...that's a strange thing to do...drip salt water solution till your forehead swells enough to put a thumb in it to create that bagel look. So strange of a desire!
A breed with Aliens
very unique, but nothing to be criticized nor ridiculed. nobody asks to be born with any condition like this. respect is the "magic" word here.
seenit many times,,,,,,nutin gnu
lolololol
Did they just make me look at a fathead? It's called a fathead people! You don't write whole articles on it! I think the person who wrote this article is a Scandanavian from Orange County California. That would explain why she's never seen fat! I bet you the fat on his stomach and back also looks like the human brain. The condition is called "stop eating too many donuts." We don't need a scientist for this.
cellulite brain or bull dog head are other common terms for gross fathead syndrome. In the old days this normality would require a double bagger - one bag to cover the head and the other as backup in case the first fell off.
Why doesn't this freak grow some hair so we don't have to see it?
So much disrespect on these threads it absolutely makes me sick. You think he's such a freak huh?
Well why don't you send us a picture of yourself? I'm sure you're no supermodel, just a judgemental @!$%#.
Looks like something you might see in L.A. or S.F, California!
Many of the liberals around here have this condition. The unnatural pressures of constant stupity cause the brain to push through their soft skulls. If they come to their senses and vote Obama out of office their heads can be straightened out later with with a baseball bat or rolling pin.
dumb comment from another racist republican
Swartzenegger looks like a Neaderthal, Bush has a unabrow. Ann Coulter looks like a camp sirvivor. Cris Cristie Cream and Rush Limbaugh needs sumo wraps. All the perfect specimens are conservatives !
Man, people like you will insert your political garbage into anything! I bet you're a real treat to be around
Since these photo's were released five fellow fraternity brothers have gotten this same hair cut. TOGA TOGA TOGA
The guy's a retard and his squishy scalp has nothing to do with it? Um....ok. He needs to grow some freakin' hair, cuz that's disgusting.
I really have trouble feeling sorry for this Dude ...When I was in high school everybody called me melon head, because of my humongous head. I could never play high school football because there were no helmets big enough for me. One really nice football coach felt sorry for me and let me pick up all the towels in the locker room after the games. I found an empty 5 gallon plastic paint bucket and carved eye holes in it so I could play football.
Then I discovered what I had always been missing, some F##ing @!$%#s always wanting to tackle me, and kick my ass after school. Fugg that, I hate sports.
LOLOLOL!! Now THAT'S funny! If asked, would I like to have a key to Fort Knox or your head full of quarters, well the answer appears obvious...
Something else awful in the world at which to look! Thanks ( but not really)
It's the first step in the expansion of the brain. His descendants will be an evolutionary upgrade. Human 2.0
Probably dead on there with your reckoning there beermug...but I've seen this type of things on fat bouncers that walk like they are muscle bound when really they're just trying to not walk out of their saggin' ass pants and the wrinkles are on the back of their necks like a pack of hotdogs.
LMAO. There's a really huge guy on the train I ride whose neck is so fat he has a "muffin top" on his collar.
I just hope the (fore) skin on his other head don't look like this. It would prolly freak out the ladies. What?...I'm just saying.
hmmmmm actually......
Holy crap! It does look like Grampas testicle!!
and how would you know...