A young man, Oluwadamilare Joseph, has been living with a rare genetic skin condition known as trichoepithelioma since he was six years old. This condition causes tumors to develop from hair follicles, primarily on the face. Despite his family members also having the same condition, Oluwadamilare never thought much of it until he started experiencing severe bullying from strangers.
Growing up in Cross River State, Nigeria, Oluwadamilare faced discrimination and bullying in school due to his appearance, which led him to skip school on Fridays to avoid the harassment. To raise awareness about trichoepithelioma and educate people about the non-contagious nature of the condition, Oluwadamilare began sharing his story on social media platforms like TikTok, where he has amassed over 100,000 followers.
While he has received support online, Oluwadamilare continues to encounter abuse and misconceptions about his condition. Despite facing negativity, he remains focused on spreading awareness and answering questions to dispel myths surrounding trichoepithelioma. Surgery is an option to remove the tumors, although they may reoccur over time. Oluwadamilare documents his journey on TikTok under the username @threethousand_lightyear.
