Werewolf syndrome: This man suffers from an extremely rare disease that has completely changed his appearance (PHOTO)

Updated on June 12, 2023 at 7:02 PM

Lalit Patel was born with a congenital condition known as 'werewolf syndrome'. Bullied by his peers during his childhood, he now has thousands of followers on Instagram.

Man who suffers from 'werewolf syndrome' found a way to raise awareness on this extremely rare disease

This young man went from being bullied to being liked and followed. Lalit Patel's early years were not the easiest. When he was born, this boy of Indian origin was covered in body hair, so much so that the nurses and doctors were taken aback by his appearance at first sight.

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But apart from his extensive body hair, Lalit Patel is in perfect health. Unfortunately, his condition led to him being bullied for much of his life. However, he seems to have found a way to own his story, and many people are very supportive.

He suffers from Ambras syndrome, or 'werewolf syndrome'

Lalit Patel actually suffers from congenital hypertrichosis. This is a genetic disorder manifested by excessive hair growth. Lalit Patel's case is extreme, however, and is referred to as Ambras syndrome, or 'werewolf syndrome'. This disease is extremely rare, affecting only one person in 340 million. According to the National Institute of Health, the 'werewolf syndrome' is characterized by excessive hair growth, but it can also cause face deformities.

Individuals with Ambras syndrome have excessive growth of vellus (soft, fine and short) hair, especially on the face, ears, and shoulders. Facial and dental abnormalities may also be present.

Now aged 17, the young man's face is covered in fluffy hair, which can cause him problems in everyday life. For example, he may have difficulty eating, breathing or simply seeing.

Lalit has become a star on social media

Lalit Patel has decided to turn his illness into strength. Certainly, when he was young, he was given some very disrespectful nicknames, with some of his classmates calling him the 'monkey boy', and socializing with such a disability was difficult.

But today, he proudly displays his face on social media and even sports a hashtag #borndifferent on his profile. He has some 142,000 followers on Instagram. That's a nice revenge from those who bullied him, and a great way to raise awareness on this extremely rare disease.