A nine-year-old girl could die at any moment battling the deadly scaling condition that causes her to shed skin all over her body.
Maddie Hoffman, from Burleson, Texas, has been confused for a burns survivor by cruel strangers due to the reddish appearance of her skin. She is also bullied at school for her unusual appearance and odour – caused by the disorder.
She is plagued by epidemolytic ichthyosis – meaning her skin can grow up to ten times faster than normal, peels and becomes so dry she can’t move.
Each day she undergoes a two-hour routine to remove dead skin cells and protect her from catching a life-threatening infection. As a child her skin was very flaky and raw, but it is believed the treatment has improved her condition.
Her mother, Emily, 42, was told her daughter may not survive after she was born – but the daily scrubbing has helped to keep her alive.
She wasn’t allowed to hold her until she was seven days old in an isolation room – and she had to wear gloves and a mask.
