A 29-year-old woman in China found out the hard way that she has a rare medical condition that makes her look like an elderly woman after giving birth.
Hu Juan, of Henan, China, noticed the skin on her face and neck began to rapidly wrinkle and sag six months after giving birth to her son in 2003 when she was 18, Asia One reported. Multiple trips to the doctor showed she was in good health but failed to explain why she looked 80 years old.
Doctors were finally able to determine she suffered from a connective tissue disorder known as Cutis laxa, which reportedly only 10 people in the world have been diagnosed with.
With Cutis laxa, a rapid loss of elasticity in the skin causes it to become droopy and wrinkly, making one appear drastically older than they are. There is no known cure for the disorder, Asia One reported.
Ashamed of her appearance, Juan locked herself away from the world for over 10 years. As Juan's son got older he became distant towards his mother, not wanting his friends to find out about her. At one point Juan attempted suicide, according to Asia One.
Things finally changed for Juan last month when she traveled to Shanghai to receive cosmetic surgery and help from a team of experts, including a psychologist, the Daily Mail reported.
Doctors said it's too early to tell if the surgery will be successful, but they are hopeful.
