Double Take: Womans Hair Turns to Black Fingernails – photo by Handout
In a medical mystery that is baffling doctors, a womans hair turns to black fingernails.
According to Yahoo News, 28-year-old beautician and former University of Memphis law student Shanyna Isom has developed a condition so severe, fingernails grow from the hair follicles all over her body. Not only has the curious disease spread all over her body, but Isom’s bones and vision has been affected as well. She is no longer able to walk without the assistance from a cane. Her mother, Kathy Gary, stated, “Black scabs were coming out of her skin. The nails would grow so long and come out and regrow themselves. They are hard to touch and stick you.”
Isom is currently being treated at Johns Hopkins Medical Center in Baltimore, however, doctors are unsure of how to treat her as she has been the only person ever to have such a disease. Unfortunately, Isom and her mother are now left with a $500,00 medical bill that they cannot afford.
Inspired by her unfortunate situation, Isom has put all of her energy into creating the S.A.I. Foundation to help others with mystery illnesses. A major financial institution, Bank of America, has agreed to take donations at any of their branch offices while friends have organized fundraisers. Isom’s high school has even dedicated a football game to her charity. “I don’t know whether to smile or cry. I am very blessed,” says Isom in an interview with ABC.
The symptoms began while Isom was a junior studying criminal justice. She was treated with steroids at a local hospital after she experienced an asthma attack; doctors speculate the steroids are what set off the unusual allergic reaction. Isom then began experiencing the debilitating symptoms of her condition as she started to have an uncontrollable itch all over her body and her legs began to turn black, “It looked as if she had been in a house fire and gotten burned,” says her mother. Isom began losing weight rapidly, as much as 15 pounds a week.
All tests performed on Isom turned up negative, baffling local doctors, even disturbing one so much that he proceeded to throw up in his hands and proclaimed that there was nothing more to be done. However, as Isom seeks treatment at Johns Hopkins, her condition is better according to her mother, “Her legs aren’t covered in black scabs. They are looking better, and her face just looks like she has a real bad sunburn.”
Isom is currently on 25 different medications while doctors are hopeful over upcoming results from a genetics test that may give insight into what is causing her unique condition.
Double Take: Womans Hair Turns to Black Fingernails.
