Rare medical condition causes Chinese man’s scalp to thicken and fold, resembling human brain

AdvertisementTrending in ChinaPeople & CultureTrending in ChinaRare medical condition causes Chinese man’s scalp to thicken and fold, resembling human brainCondition is believed not to be congenital, though its causes remain unknown2-MIN READ2-MIN ListenFran Luin BeijingPublished: 11:21am, 26 Jul 2026A man from central China had long been troubled by a thickening scalp that developed folds resembling the creases of a brain, but he eventually found a plastic surgeon who could address his condition.The 23-year-old man from Hunan province, surnamed Li, recently had his issue resolved at the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University in Hubei.Li first noticed the hardening of his scalp several years ago.

As the condition advanced, his scalp thickened and proliferated, creating large areas of uneven folds that resembled brain tissue.By the time he was 14 years old, the thickened skin covered half of his scalp, significantly impacting his appearance.Enduring immense psychological stress, Li sought help at a local hospital.

Doctors there attempted a skin expansion sLi had been wanting to have a normal scalp for years — much like the man pictured above — having suffered from severe psychological stress and confidence issues since his teenage years. Photo: ShutterstockIn the following years, he visited several hospitals, but each refused to perform surgery because the prior failed attempt had left his scalp scarred, with minimal healthy skin available for replacement.AdvertisementSelect VoiceSelect Speed0.

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