A three-year-old boy from Fujian province, China, has made a remarkable recovery after undergoing treatment for a rare skin condition that earned him the cruel nickname “Mickey Mouse.”
Rare Congenital Skin Condition Required Complex Medical Treatment
The boy, identified only as Qibao, was born with congenital naevus, a condition characterized by giant, dark-colored moles covering his skull.
This medical condition results from an abnormal overgrowth of pigment-producing cells in the skin.
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Surgeons in Shanghai determined they could remove the moles but told the family that Qibao would need to undergo skin expansion before surgery.
The treatment involved inserting special expanders under his scalp to gradually stretch the surrounding skin.
This process created two large, balloon-like protrusions on either side of his head, which led to the unfortunate “Mickey Mouse” comparison from onlookers.
About one percent of babies are born with congenital nevus, though cases are typically much smaller and sometimes referred to as “brown birthmarks” by medical professionals.
These marks tend to grow larger as children age.
The condition posed a potential cancer risk, which prompted Qibao’s mother to pursue treatment options.
Successful Surgery Transforms Boy’s Life After Social Challenges
After five months of treatment, Qibao underwent a six-hour operation to remove both the expanders and the affected skin. Surgeons have now declared the treatment a complete success.
His mother, identified as Ms Chen, shared their difficult journey, saying, “We wiped away our tears and moved forward.”
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The child faced significant social challenges during his treatment. Strangers would stare, whisper, and point whenever he went outside, making him extremely uncomfortable.
“He often just sat in his stroller with the canopy covered,” his mother revealed.
Post-operation footage shows Qibao with his head wrapped in bandages, playing happily in the hospital’s nursery. Following the successful procedure, the boy reportedly said he wanted to earn money to buy his mother lipstick.
His story has touched many hearts across China. One social media user wrote on Douyin (China’s version of TikTok): “This boy is so brave and so is his mum. I cried watching this.”
Another commented: “I used to get teased too for how I looked. This really hit me.”
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A third Douyin user noted: “He looks so happy now.”
Treatment options for congenital nevus generally include surgery to remove the affected area, with full-thickness grafts sometimes necessary for larger growths.
When surgery isn’t feasible due to size, location, or thickness, doctors may recommend laser therapy to reduce pigmentation or dermabrasion to resurface the skin.
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