Picture your skin being as fragile as, or even more delicate than, toilet paper.
This is the reality for Dean Clifford from Queensland, Australia, who was diagnosed with Epidermolysis Bullosa, a rare skin condition often described as one of the most horrifying diseases imaginable.
At just 18 months old, doctors told his parents he had only two years to live and, if he survived that long, he wouldn’t make it past the age of five.
Clifford is now 44 years old and holds the title of the oldest survivor globally with the most severe form of Epidermolysis Bullosa, which affects one in 50,000 people.
Despite beating the odds, he still endures chronic pain and must bandage his paper-thin skin as part of his daily routine.
In an interview with MailOnline about his condition and its impact on his life, he said: “The way I describe it to people I meet is my skin is basically as strong as tissue paper or strong as butterfly wings.”
“So the slightest little movement will create a blister or a tear in my skin that will become ulcerated and become a nightmare to deal with.
“It’s sort of equivalent to living with third-degree burns every single day.”
Clifford continued: “I always knew that I was very different. I knew by people in the community being scared to be around me, or when I’d go to the cities or go outside of my familiar environment the community would be scared to be around me.”
“Kids to this day are still quite scared and concerned, which is fine, I can deal with kids and get them to understand pretty quickly, and I can deal with adults, and get adults to understand pretty quickly.”
“If people want to get to know the person behind the skin condition then I’m more than happy to share my story.”
Even with a debilitating disease, Clifford chooses not to take it easy. Instead, he challenges his body to the limit and, despite the adversity, has become a bodybuilder and a motivational speaker.
He remarked: “There’s nobody that I am aware of that is lifting the kind of weights that I lift… and there’s not many people in the world, whether they’ve got EB or they have got a normal healthy body, that is able to train with me on a level or keep up with me.”
Against all odds, Clifford has become an inspiration to many around the world, driven by his passion for fitness.
He added: “The message I’m always trying to spread is basically to be true to yourself and find the thing that makes your life special.”
Epidermolysis Bullosa is a collective term for a group of rare genetic skin disorders that render the skin extremely fragile, making any trauma to the skin result in painful blisters. It is caused by a gene mutation.