The "man-tree disease"

Verruciform epidermodysplasia, also known as Lutz-Lewandowsky syndrome, is a rare skin disorder of genetic origin.
It is characterized by an abnormal sensitivity of the skin to papillomavirus (the human papillomavirus is a DNA virus belonging to the family Papillomaviridae.There are about 200 different genotypes of papillomavirus.Some genotypes are transmitted by skin contact and infect the skin while others are sexually transmitted and are responsible for 99% of cervical cancer in women.

The condition starts between 4 and 8 years, most often before the age of 20, but can exceptionally appear later and last the rest of the life.

It results in the appearance of scaly macules and sometimes exuberant papules, mainly in the hands and feet.
In these lesions, we find papillomaviruses type 5 and 8, viruses that are found in 80% of subjects in an asymptomatic normal population. Other types of papillomavirus can sometimes be identified.
There are about 200 people with this skin condition, also known as the "man-tree disease".

Dede Koswara

This Indonesian suffers from an extremely rare disease. Year after year, his skin is covered with huge bark-like warts. Despite several surgeries, he is still not cured ... For him, it is a nightmare, since his 10 years, his body is gradually covered with dark and hard warts, like bark. Which earned him to be known around the world as a tree-man. For years, Dede's condition worsened: excrescences completely covered his feet, his hands turned into branches, and his face was slowly covered by warts. Moving around causes unbearable pain and it was even impossible for him to feed himself. Dede actually suffers from the Lewandowsky-Lutz disease, unfortunately incurable. We know for the moment only a little more than 200 cases of this very rare genetic syndrome throughout the world.

The skin of those affected is abnormally sensitive to papillomavirus, which results in an extremely widespread spread of warts on their body, which can become cancerous. Nevertheless, the case of Dede remains very spectacular compared to others. His life changed the day he was spotted by a film crew in the traveling circus he had joined. He performed under the pseudonym tree-man. The report was then circulated around the world, even pushing the Indonesian president to send the best doctors in the country at his bedside. During its first operation, five kilograms of growth were removed, nearly 95%. Dede then saw his hands for the first time in several years. But Lewandowsky-Lutz's disease, also called being still present, his body slowly covered again with warts. It must be operated regularly to remove some of it. Aged 35, Dede does not lose hope of being cured one day.

Thanks to research, scientists have succeeded in identifying certain genes involved, however their exact role and the mechanisms involved remain relatively mysterious.

Treatment

Several treatments have been tried with little or no repeatability.
The most important is sunscreen, regular clinical monitoring and rapid excision of any lesions that are becoming carcinomatous degeneration.

(Pictures source)