//tw medical body horror ok?// A small, flimsy book sat on the shelf, in rather good condition for its age. The cover was solid black, with one word on it: Snakeskin -------- In our facilities, we have spent much time studying the medical failures of the districts. One of the most common and difficult problems we face is a condition the laborers call Snakeskin. While most skin issues in our world come from the chemicals in the air, Snakeskin is different because of how it transforms the human body into something hardened and brittle. The Three Stages of the Sickness 1. The Drying It starts with a feeling of extreme tightness. Do not use any water on it, it does not help to wash the area- rather, it makes it worse. The skin begins to feel like old parchment. 2. The Clumping This is the most unique part of the disease. Instead of just flaking away like a normal scrape, the skin begins to gather into thick, hard piles. The skin is no longer soft; it is a hardened shell that makes it difficult for the patient to move their arms or legs. 3. The Shedding Eventually, the body can no longer hold onto these heavy, hardened pieces. The clumps fall off in large, jagged chunks. This leaves the person very weak and open to infections, especially for those living near the waste piles. Why Does This Happen? We believe this condition is caused by the acidic rain and snow that falls on our world. When this acid touches the skin, it changes the way the body grows. There are rumors among the workers that Snakeskin is caused by bad luck or spirits, but as researchers, we know better. It is a biological problem caused by our environment. However, we do treat it as a serious condition. This means that anyone with Snakeskin must see a doctor right away. How We Treat It As researchers in the facilities, we have tried many ways to stop the progress of Snakeskin. We once believed that strong lemon extract or tools could save the skin, but we were wrong. Our studies now show that once the clumping begins, there is no way to reverse the process. Because the skin becomes hard like stone, it eventually stops the body from moving at all, and eventually will fall off and leave the person as exposed muscle and bone, which leads to death. Summary If you see a worker with skin that is drying and falling off in hardened clumps, report it to the nearest facility. While we cannot save the individual, we must study the spread of the condition to protect the rest of the workers.
