A teenage boy suffers allergic reactions which cause his skin to fall off when he comes into contact with his jeans, batteries and even his Xbox.
Antonio Maiocco, 13, has been left with lifelong allergies to hundreds of everyday items since he suffered Scarlet Fever two years ago.
He is forced to take extreme precautions to avoid contact with nickel, cobalt and blue dye to prevent his skin ‘shedding like a snake’.
Since his first flare-up two years ago, he now has to avoid many foods, toothpastes and clothes to prevent his skin from turning red raw.
But it’s not just direct contact that causes his allergies, being close to other people can trigger his skin to fall off.
Antonio Maiocco, 13, from Philadelphia, has been left with lifelong allergies to hundreds of everyday items since he suffered Scarlet Fever two years ago
His mother Lynn, 44, from Philadelphia, said: ‘Blue dye is in everything, you wouldn’t believe it. It’s in toothpaste, so he can only use natural toothpaste.
‘Clothing is one of the worst things he’ll react to. Jeans are really bad because they bleed so much dye.
‘It’s not just if he wears something, it’s if it’s close to him, too. So if a kid wearing jeans sits next to him on the bus then he’ll get a reaction.
‘I buy clear nail polish to cover the seat belts in cars, because that can cause a reaction.
-
Teenage girl discovers she has a rare brain condition when…
Two-year-old girl who lost both of her legs to meningitis…
Are YOU trying to get pregnant? Revealed, the 8 diet tips to…
Man, 50, ‘got hepatitis from energy drinks’: Doctors issue…
‘When we go to the movies, I have to take a seat cover so that he can sit without getting a reaction, which was fine to begin with but now he’s getting older it’s a bit more awkward.
‘He has his own special stationery, and cutlery to take out to eat with.’
His family have now removed all traces of everyday products and items that contain blue dye from the family’s house.
They are placed in a ‘blue zone’ in the garage to protect Antonio from any harm.
He is forced to take extreme precautions to avoid contact with nickel, cobalt and blue dye to prevent his skin ‘shedding like a snake’ (pictured, one of his allergic reactions)
But it’s not just direct contact that causes his allergies, being close to other people can trigger his skin to fall off or trigger a rash on his body
And because of his cobalt allergy being aggravated by batteries, he is forced to wear gloves if he wants to use electrical devices.
Describing the first morning she found her son in agony with his skin peeling off, Ms Maiocco said: ‘His skin was just red and falling off.
‘It was literally like he was a snake shedding his skin. There was pain in his eyes. Layers of skin were falling off him and lying over his bed.
‘He couldn’t move, his arms and legs were all tied up like a pretzel. He looked like he had been burned or had acid thrown on him.
‘My husband and I rushed him straight to the children’s hospital and they told us they had never seen anything like it.’
He was forced to wait two months for his skin to heal enough to begin the testing process for any allergies.
But he was finally diagnosed with his triggers in winter 2014.
He now must have numerous creams applied to his body every morning to minimise his potential reactions.
He was forced to wait two months for his skin to heal enough to begin the testing process (pictured) for any allergies. He now must have numerous creams applied to his body every morning to minimise his potential reactions
Despite her fears for her son as he enters adolescence, Ms Maiocco said her son deals with his condition incredibly well.
She added: ‘It’s the worst thing in the world to happen to me. I was told I would never have children, so he’s even more special.
‘I do get upset, and I worry how things will be for him now he’s growing into a teenager.
‘He does get bullied sometimes, a kid called him Freddie Krueger once and he was upset.
‘But he’s amazing. He has so much strength, he keeps telling me that everything will be fine and we can manage it. He just deals with it.
‘When I ask him how he is he’s always like, “I feel great!”
‘I tell him all the time, “I knew you’d be special, but I never knew that you would be this unique.”‘