Vitiligo
Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease that arises when the cells of the body that produce melanin stop functioning correctly. It causes one's skin to develop white patches. While vitiligo can technically be described as a disease, it's not medically dangerous. It can affect one's appearance, but it's not life-threatening or contagious.
Vitiligo is different from albinism because the latter is a genetic disorder that affects one's entire body. The Jamaican-Canadian TV personality Winnie Harlow has vitiligo and spoke about her experience with the disease in a TEDx presentation and a viral YouTube video.
Syndactyly
Most people call it webbed toes, but this rare condition is also known by an appropriate medical term: syndactyly. It occurs while babies are still in their mother's womb because the child's toes or fingers failed to separate. Often associated with toes, syndactyly is more common as a condition that affects one's fingers.
Syndactyly doesn't cause any harm and can easily be solved. However, it can also be related to serious genetic conditions such as Down syndrome. It's also associated with a rare autosomal recessive congenital disorder known as Sakati syndrome.
Synophrys
We all know it as unibrow, but the medical dictionary calls it synophrys. Synophrys can be described as the fusion of the eyebrows above the nose and is caused by a mutation in a specific gene, namely the SMC1A gene. It is such a mild condition that it can be easily solved with a razor!
While synophrys was once considered unfashionable, it has since become a symbol of style. One of the people who has helped promote the unibrow look is the Greek-Cypriot model Sophia Hadjipanteli, who redefines beauty standards and counts over 466K followers on Instagram.
Insomnia
Sleep disorders can be a nightmare (no pun intended), and they make for diagnosable medical conditions that may need to be treated by a professional. Insomnia is the most common sleep disorder there is, and it's characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep. Stress is often considered to be a relevant cause of insomnia.
Other sleep disorders include sleep apnea (difficulty maintaining a normal breathing pattern while asleep), RLS or restless leg syndrome, and parasomnia (caused by involuntary physical movements that disrupt sleep). There's also narcolepsy, a chronic sleep disorder involving excessive daytime drowsiness.
Alopecia
Alopecia affects men and women alike and is characterized by partial or complete hair loss. The most common form of alopecia occurs just in the scalp, but extreme cases can develop in the entire body. Baldness, which is very common and mainly prevalent in men, is a form of alopecia.
Alopecia can be caused by many factors, including genetics, hormonal changes, stress, certain medical conditions, or simply getting older. Its consequences are mainly aesthetic, but celebrities such as Theresa Hansson from Sweden have repeatedly challenged the preconceived notion that baldness isn't beautiful.
Marfan Syndrome
There's nothing wrong with having unusual long legs, as stated by the elegant Scandinavian model Ia Ostergren. Ostergren made a name for herself with the help of her incredibly slender 40-inch legs, but did you know that having unusually long legs, fingers, and arms makes for a genetic disorder known as Marfan syndrome?
Marfan syndrome can occur at any stage of a person's life, which isn't noticeable during childhood. People affected by Marfan syndrome have a distinctive look and are characterized as being very tall and thin. In some cases, their sternum may either be indented or sticking out.
Gigantism
Gigantism is a rare medical condition that occurs during childhood—people with gigantism experience abnormal growth in terms of height and girth. The condition is caused when one's pituitary gland produces too much somatotropin, a hormone associated with growing.
While rare, gigantism can be very serious and lead to subsequent muscular and psychological problems. The Brazilian native Elisany da Cruz Silva suffers from gigantism, but that doesn't take anything away from her looks. It does, however, make it hard for her to perform normal daily activities such as driving or traveling by airplane.
Blondism
There's no shortage of famous blondes in Hollywood, but did you know that having light hair is very rare? While the number of blondes per capita may vary according to the country, only two in every 100 people in the world are natural blondes.
According to The Guardian, blonde women have lower testosterone levels than brunette women, which may help explain why blonde females tend to be perceived as beautiful. Blondism (the occurrence of blonde traits in a predominantly dark population) is associated with light pigments because it enables a more efficient vitamin D synthesis.
Perfect Pitch
Also known as absolute pitch, perfect pitch is a rare ability that can only be described as a gift. It's estimated that only one in every 10,000 people has perfect pitch, and this capacity is seldom developed during adulthood. But what is it?
Perfect pitch is the aptitude to identify a note by hearing it. Skilled musicians can often play a song by ear, identify different musical scales and chords, and instinctively create original melodies. But a musician with absolute pitch knows each particular note without any reference and can even identify musical notes in everyday sounds.
Congenital Amputation
Amputation is often caused by accident or a medical condition, but congenital amputation occurs in the womb. People with congenital amputation were born without one or more limbs, and this serious condition can have an extreme effect on one's life.
However, people with congenital amputation can be as happy, beautiful, and accomplished as anyone else. The model Kanya Sesser, for instance, was born without legs but still managed to make a name for herself not only as a beauty symbol but also as an athlete. She practices surfing, skateboarding, skiing, and even basketball!
Bee Melvnin
No, it's not Photoshop. The Gambian model Bee Melvnin took the Internet by storm with her breathtaking and incredibly unusual looks that resemble something coming straight out of an anime show! But Melvnin is real! Her unique appearance isn't caused by a particular medical condition but rather by a hugely rare combination of genetic factors.
Melvnin is a one-of-a-kind online influencer because she has very dark skin paired with light eyes and freckles! People were so baffled by the way she looks that a few ill-intentioned commentators even accused her of being a white woman posing as black.
Heterochromia
We're pretty sure you've seen a beautiful husky dog with two differently colored eyes once or twice. But did you know that people can also have the same genetic condition? It's called heterochromia and isn't dangerous nor affects one's quality of vision.
It's important to point out that injuries to the eye can cause some instances of heterochromia. In other cases, the condition can be associated with birth defects, including Parry Romberg syndrome, congenital Horner's syndrome, or Waardenburg syndrome. Needless to say, heterochromia is super rare, affecting less than 1% of the world's population.
Uncombable Hair Syndrome
In addition to having one of the coolest names ever attributed by the medical community, uncombable hair syndrome, or UHS, makes for a rare structural anomaly caused mainly by three protein-encoding genes—namely PADI3, TCHH, and TGM3. It can be uncomfortable, but it's not dangerous and typically disappears before puberty.
Another interesting aspect of UHS is that it's one of the rarest medical conditions documented. According to MedlinePlus, only about 100 cases of UHS were ever found. The condition needs to affect at least 50% of one's scalp shafts to be clinically apparent.
Cold Urticaria
We all feel a bit uncomfortable when exposed to cold temperatures, but people diagnosed with cold urticaria have it worse. This rare condition occurs when people develop skin hives and itches immediately after being exposed to low temperatures. Cold urticaria can be alleviated with the help of an ice cube.
If you suffer from cold urticaria, you should try to see a doctor. In some cases, the condition can be caused by or associated with an underlying medical issue affecting one's immune system. This can be either an infection or a form of cancer, so it's essential to keep cold urticaria in check.
Hirsutism
Since the heyday of circus exhibitions, women with beards have been celebrated in pop culture. But the social media influencer Dakota Cooke took her beard to the next level and used it to amass over 4K followers. She runs an Instagram profile proudly titled "Dakota The Bearded Lady."
Cooke's impressive beard is related to a condition known as hirsutism, which is caused by excessive production of androgens hormones. These hormones are typically associated with male traits and include testosterone, among others. Hirsutism can also be associated with hair growth in the chest and back.
Capillary Nevus Simplex
Birthmarks. The name states that they are present at birth and are often used to identify people. If you have a birthmark, you should be proud of it, as it's an unmistakable sign of your identity and sets you apart from everyone else.
Just ask Cassandra Naud: after all, she's been proudly boasting her facial birthmark online and even refused to remove it surgically. Like her, many other people have birthmark known by many names. The most common is medically called capillary nevus simplex and makes for a vascular malformation with a red or brownish tone.
Argyria
Not all body-changing conditions are caused by genetic disorders. Some can be explained by exposure to certain substances. Out of the latter, argyria is surely one of the most outstanding. People with argyria display an unmistakable dark grey skin tone; this rare disorder is irreversible, but what is it that causes it?
Believe it or not, the ingestion of approximately six grams of silver nitrate (either due to industrial exposure or medicine consumption) is all it takes for one's face to change color indefinitely. Side effects include kidney problems and headaches.
Distichiasis
Big eyelashes are pretty popular and are considered to be a beauty standard. That's why so many people love to put some fake eyelashes on before getting out. But people with distichiasis don't ever have to worry about it: the condition is characterized as the abnormal growth of lashes.
But distichiasis isn't just about having huge eyelashes. People who suffer from it may have to deal with many other issues, including sensitivity to light, conjunctivitis, sagging eyelids, and cornea irritation. According to the Daily Mail, the late legendary actress Elizabeth Taylor had distichiasis.
Cat-Eye Syndrome
Cats: they have conquered our hearts, not to mention the Internet. Some people love cats so much that we have no doubts they wouldn't mind having this mind-boggling condition. Appropriately known as the cat-eye syndrome, this rare eye abnormality causes humans to have feline-like eyes.
In many cases, individuals affected by cat-eye syndrome only display cat-like characteristics in one eye. This condition is caused by a permanent change to a chromosome, which means it's incurable. If you've never seen a person with eyes that look like this, don't worry: the abnormality only affects roughly one in 150,000 people.
Arch-Shaped Fingerprints
While some rare body features are impossible to miss, others are so discreet you may not even know you have them. An excellent example of the latter is the exclusive arch-shaped fingerprint, the least common type of fingerprint shape.
Only 5% of the population displays fingerprints that look like, well, an arch! This fingerprint shape may be hard to spot even if you look very closely at the tip of your fingers. But if you manage to stamp your fingertips, there's a good chance you can find out if you're one of the five percent.
Albinism
Similar to vitiligo in many ways, albinism is a rare genetic disorder caused by a more extreme lack of melanin production. This condition is inherited and very distinguishable; it affects approximately 20,000 people worldwide. People with albinism tend to also suffer from photophobia, which is extreme sensitivity to light.
Because people with albinism are very distinctive, they've been at the center of folk tales for centuries and were once deemed to be otherworldly creatures. Nowadays, the condition is well documented, and people with the same disorder are considered to be beautiful and unique.
Tsunaina
No, Tsunaina is not the name of an exotic, rare genetic disorder. But it's the name of a model with a face so unique that she deserves a special entry in this list. It's hard to explain why Tsunaina looks the way it does; to be blunt, we have to guess it has to do with genetics.
Born in Tibet, Tsunaina made news worldwide for having a one-of-a-kind gorgeous face. She took her unique facial features to Instagram and quickly became famous, collecting over 380K online followers in the meantime. In addition to being a social media legend, she also works as a musician.
Strabismus
Strabismus is casually known as crossed eyes and makes for an eye condition that causes one's eyes to point in different directions. If detected early, the condition is treatable and can be fixed with eyeglasses, therapy, and surgery.
Strabismus was considered to be aesthetically unpleasant for many years, but this notion is changing in recent times. One of the prominent people responsible for promoting strabismus as a distinctive symbol of beauty is the British model Moffy Hardy. She has over 13K followers on Instagram, is signed to a major agency, and loves to share gorgeous snaps of herself.
Blue Eyes
Well, you might have already heard about this one. Blue eyes are widely regarded as beautiful, and they're as rare as they are desirable: only 8% of the world population was born with blue eyes, and most live in (or descend from people who used to live in) the northern European regions near the Baltic Sea.
What you may not know is that, according to a 2008 study shared by Science Daily, blue eyes may have one single common ancestor! All it took was for one person to have a HERC2 gene mutation about 10,000 years ago for blue eyes to become a modern-day standard of beauty.
Hair Whorl
Well, you might have already heard about this one. Blue eyes are widely regarded as beautiful, and they're as rare as they are desirable: only 8% of the world population was born with blue eyes, and most live in (or descend from people who used to live in) the northern European regions near the Baltic Sea.
What you may not know is that, according to a 2008 study shared by Science Daily, blue eyes may have one single common ancestor! All it took was for one person to have a HERC2 gene mutation about 10,000 years ago for blue eyes to become a modern-day standard of beauty.
Red Hair
Think about it: do you know anyone with red hair? If you do, you should feel exceptional. Redheaded people are not as familiar as most assume, as only up to 2% of the world's population is proud to exhibit a sensational red mane.
If you're Irish, though, knowing or being redheaded may not be particularly exciting. The country truly deserves to be called the redheaded capital of the world. After all, up to 30% of the Irish population fits the description. Still, the United States is believed to be the country with the most redheaded citizens.
Photic Sneeze Reflex
Do lights make you sneeze? Then you should be happy to know you're not alone. Up to 35% of the world's population suffers from a condition known as photic sneeze reflex, or PSR. While relatively common, PSR is considered to be a poorly documented phenomenon, as it was still not entirely explained by science.
PSR is not considered to be a disease, and it's irritating at most. However, extreme cases of PSR can be hazardous. The condition is often uncontrollable and can be harmful if you work in a sensitive job—a bad case of PSR can truly mess up a medical surgeon's day...
Single Crease
You don't need to be obsessed with yourself to know what your hands look like. After all, that's why we coined the expression "to know something like the palm of one's hand!" But did you know that an estimated one out of 30 people exhibit a single crease in the palm of their hands?
While associated with conditions such as Down syndrome, single creases are harmless. Most people boast three creases in the palm of their hands, and hand lines have been the inspiration behind the fortune-telling practice of palmistry for generations.
Morton's Toe
Morton's toe is not a condition, but rather a hereditary feature. This characteristic is present in about 10% of the world's population and is not harmful. People who have Morton's toes have a second toe that's longer than their big toe.
What's interesting is that Morton's toe has a symbolic significance in India. According to History Daily, people with a particularly large second toe are deemed to value happiness over money in the Indian culture. And guess what? The Indians may be right to merit the elusive Morton's toe, as studies have concluded it is correlated with a slight athletic advantage.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
There's something goofy about the Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, or EDS, as people diagnosed with it manage to stretch their connective tissue to extraordinary lengths. But EDS is no joking matter. It's a serious condition that can have daunting consequences and even affect one's life expectancy.
People with EDS tend to pass away before turning 50 and experience severe health problems by the time they're 40. EDS is also associated with chronic pain, as it can cause serious damage to one's joints, muscles, and nerves. Headaches and stomach pain are also associated with the disease.
Freckles
Freckles are not exactly rare, as many people have some freckles around their cheeks and nose. However, people that have many freckles are not as common. While genetics plays a fundamental part in the formation of freckles, these can appear naturally, as they're often caused by exposure to UV rays. That's why some people only have visible freckles during the summer!
Freckles are generally considered to be beautiful, as stated by the success of the freckle-covered model Aleece Wilson. Also known as OddFreckles, she has approximately 40K followers on Instagram.
Ectodermal Dysplasia
Ectodermal dysplasia makes for a group of disorders. It is characterized by the abnormal development of two or more ectodermal structures. Allow us to explain: the word ectodermal describes one of the germ layers of the embryo. This layer is responsible for the prenatal development of stuff as necessary as the epidermis, the nervous system, and the neural tissue.
In other words, people with ectodermal dysplasia exhibit stuff like abnormal nails or teeth, a cleft lip, a very large forehead, or a low nasal bridge. In some cases, the condition can also give way to learning disabilities.
Anisocoria
Anisocoria is a condition that causes one's eye pupils to be differently sized. Anisocoria is sometimes a normal variation that occurs in people's eyes, but it can also represent an underlying issue. It can be associated with glaucoma (damages in the optic nerve) or uveitis (a form of eye inflammation).
In some cases, anisocoria can also be caused by injury or trauma. That's what happened to the late singer-songwriter David Bowie. The "Space Oddity" singer exhibited anisocoria as a result of an injury he suffered when he was a teenager.
Tetrachromacy
There are three kinds of color receptors that most humans have, meaning they can see up to 32 colors. People with three types of color receptors make for about 50% of the world's population. People with tetrachromacy, though, convey color information through four different channels and can see up to 39 colors.
Tetrachromats are highly sensitive to different shades of reds, greens, and blues, as well as ultra-violet light. This condition—or special ability—is more prevalent in animals than humans, and more common in women than men. An estimated 12% of all women have tetrachromacy.
Corneal Scar
Our eyes may look like one of the most sensitive parts of the human body, but they are very resilient. Our corneas can endure minor abrasions very effectively, but some types of corneal damage may lead to the formation of corneal scars. Eye scars are very rare and, while sometimes associated with serious issues, they don't need to be treated and are usually harmless.
Injuries to the eye and infections are the leading causes of corneal scars. They're often associated with burns and lacerations, improper usage of contact lenses, and even diseases such as shingles (a viral infection) and syphilis.
Macrotia
Macrotia is a condition that can be verified in children and associated with unusually large ears. It can be a symptom of serious diseases, but it's harmless on its own. However, macrotia can impact one's confidence. That's why otoplasty surgery (or cosmetic ear surgery) is common.
But not all people with big ears are looking to make a change. The Ukrainian model Arina Lubiteleva, for instance, managed to make an impact on the runway and Instagram by proudly exhibiting her unusually large ears. Her example inspired many to feel better about the way they look.
Achondroplasia
Achondroplasia is a genetic condition that, while relatively rare, affects one in every 40,000 people. Described as a form of skeletal dysplasia, it impairs the growth of the bone in the limbs and causes skull and spine abnormalities. Achondroplasia is one of the most common types of dwarfism.
Dwarfism has been around for centuries and can cause many medical conditions. People who suffer from it can nonetheless live normal, happy lives and even make a change in the world. The Instagram influencer Dru Pesta and the "Game of Thrones" actor Peter Dinklage are just two examples of success.
Wisdom Teeth
Swelling of the gums, bad breath, jaw pain, and gum bleed are some of the signs that can indicate you need to have your wisdom teeth removed. They're said to be "wise" because they usually start to be a problem later in an individual's development (late teens or early 20s). However, wisdom teeth start to grow at around the age of 7.
Wisdom teeth are super common, but about 35% of the world's population isn't impacted by them at all. Additionally, about 25% of all humans have not two but three wisdom teeth.
Hyperpigmentation
Melanin is a pigment produced by our bodies and affects one's natural skin color. Melanin production is rooted in genetics, but it can be affected by all sorts of environmental and bodily changes. Acne scars, exposure to the sun, and hormone fluctuations caused by pregnancy can all mess up one's melanin production.
That may help to explain why hyperpigmentation (the formation of darker patches in one's face and body) is so prevalent. While common, its intensity varies, and some cases of hyperpigmentation can be particularly noticeable. Mainly harmless, it can be treated for aesthetic reasons with the help of laser therapy.
Dermatographia
There's medication available to treat and ease dermatographia, but there's usually no urgent need for it. Casually known as skin writing, dermatographia is a condition in which even light body scratches can give way to the appearance of red lines. For this reason, people with dermatographia can use their bodies as their private sketchbooks!
Dermatographia sounds fun when we put it like that, but it can be uncomfortable. Linked to genetics, it's worsened by many daily activities and environmental factors that may be simply unavoidable, including heat and cold, stress, vibrations, and even exercise.
Waardenburg Syndrome
Waardenburg syndrome occurs during one's embryonic development, and it's caused by mutations in the neural crest cells' genes. The most distinctive feature of people who suffer from Waardenburg syndrome is an abnormally broad nasal bridge, which causes their eyes to be very separate from one another.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg: Waardenburg syndrome is also associated with several life-impacting symptoms, with deafness and reduced intellectual functions being the most significant. Cleft lips and partial albinism may also be visible in people who suffer from Waardenburg syndrome. Contrary to popular belief, the condition is not caused by inbreeding.
Ichthyosis
Ichthyosis is a genetically-inherited condition that causes one's skin to be dry, scaly, and rough. There's no available cure for it, but it can be alleviated with the help of cosmetic and therapeutic products. According to the NHS website, people who suffer from ichthyosis need to moisturize regularly.
Ichthyosis can have a severe impact on one's confidence. Still, the Instagram influencer Jeyza Gary (also known as Jeyza Kaelani) has managed to work with magazines such as Vogue despite suffering from severe ichthyosis. Her example inspired many and helped her land an impressive 28K Instagram followers.
Navel
We're pretty sure you have one of these—but have you ever stopped to think about it? The navel, belly button, or umbilicus is a small depression in the abdominal wall, and it's caused by, well, being born! But did you know that the navel is essentially a scar that all human beings have in common?
There are navels of all shapes and sizes, and the most distinctive are the ones that pop out. These are relatively rare and can be found in about 10% of the world's population. In Hindu mythology, the navel is considered one of the symbols of rebirth and presented as evidence for reincarnation.
Dextrocardia
We've all heard about people born lefthanded, in opposition to the majority of right-handed individuals. But did you know that the same can apply to hearts? Dextrocardia is a pretty extraordinary condition in which one's heart points to the right side of the chest instead of the left side.
All heart abnormalities are pretty scary, but dextrocardia isn't harmful in itself, though it's commonly associated with serious complications. People with dextrocardia can also exhibit health-impacting complications such as heart defects and organ disorders in the abdomen. The condition is also linked to dyskinesia (involuntary muscle movements).
Fibrodysplasia
Fibrodysplasia is a rare bone condition in which fibrous tissue develops instead of normal bone. This condition can weaken one's bone structure and cause severe deformations. However, it's mainly known for making specific body parts go rigid. For this reason, fibrodysplasia is commonly known as the "human mannequin" disease.
This disease can change one's life completely, but the model Louise Wedderburn isn't going to let her fibrodysplasia diagnosis prevent her from feeling beautiful and happy! Despite struggling with the human mannequin condition, she has already worked with outlets as renowned as Elle magazine!