Rare Condition Makes Man's Scalp Look Like Brains

A 21-year-old Brazilian man had a completely normal head two years ago before his scalp started looking like his brain.

"The patient's head looked completely normal two years ago, before his skin started to grow into thick, soft folds, resembling the surface of the brain," the authors of the study, Dr. Karen Schons and Dr. Andre Berber of the Hospital Universitario de Santa Maria in Brazil said.

Though the disorder has affected the structure of his scalp, the condition is largely "a benign and essentially aesthetic condition," NBC News quoted Schons as saying.

Given the rarity of this condition, very little is known about it. The cause of this disorder is yet to be discovered. However, researchers confirm that this rare disorder is predominant in men, especially those on the onset of puberty.

The man has reportedly has not experienced any symptoms before the occurrence of this condition, neither does it cause him any pain or problems. None of his family members have suffered from this rare disorder as well.

The man, who wishes his name is not revealed, was reported to be intellectually impaired and struggled with his studies in school. However, doctors confirm that this has nothing to do with the occurrence of this disorder.

"The patient did not have the habit of covering his head. The condition did not bother him cosmetically," Schons said.

The findings were published in the New England Journal of Medicine.