Living with Real-Life Greyscale
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I was 20 years old when the first lesion appeared. One morning, upon waking, I discovered what looked like a pale rash about the size of a silver dollar on my left thigh. Over the ensuing years it spread, covering my thighs, my arms, my back, and even my bottom. The lesions thickened. And sometimes cracked. It felt like my whole body was on fire.
Doctors were baffled. What was at first assumed to be some sort of skin infection failed to respond to the normal course of topical steroids and antibiotics. But it didn’t look like eczema, psoriasis, or ringworm. They even threw out the dreaded word “leprosy” once or twice before quickly dismissing it. Repeated biopsies and allergy tests were inconclusive. I was passed from specialist to specialist. Most visits concluded with the doctor calling in every single intern and nurse to gather around and gawk at my naked body.