This list will detail ten unfortunate individuals who have suffered from severe disfigurements. A few of these people, with the help of modern medicine, have been able to live a more normal life. Some of the following tales are tragic, and others inspire hope. Here are ten shocking stories:

SEE ALSO: 10 Heartbreaking Backstories Of Famous Sideshow Freaks

Rudy Santos, a 69 year old from the Philippines, suffers from the ultra rare condition known as Craniopagus parasiticus or parasitic twin. He is the oldest person with this condition. Attached to Rudy’s pelvis and abdomen are an extra pair of arms and a leg, which developed when his twin was absorbed into his body during pregnancy. Also connected to his body are an extra pair of nipples and an undeveloped head with an ear and hair.

Rudy became a national celebrity whilst traveling with a freak show during the 1970s and ’80s. He would earn up to 20,000 pesos per night as the main attraction. It was at this show where he gained his stage name—the ‘Octoman’. Rudy was likened to a god, and women would line up to be with him.

Strangely, Rudy vanished in the late ’80s and ended up living in extreme poverty for over ten years. In 2008, two doctors examined him to see whether surgery would be viable or not. They concluded that they would be able to remove the parasitic twin, but Rudy decided not to have the operation. He said that he had become fond the extra growth.

Manar Maged—born in Cairo in 2004—also suffered from parasitic twin. Manar and her twin sister were fused together at the head. Her twin had no limbs and could only smile, blink and cry.

At ten months of age, Manar was taken to a hospital in Cairo after she became very ill. It was decided that without the removal of the parasitic twin, they would both die. Unfortunately, after they were separated, the twin died as it used the blood supply of Manar and could not survive without her. Less than a year later, Manar also died due to a brain infection which was caused by complications from the surgery.

Minh Anh is a Vietnamese orphan who was born with a mystery skin disorder which causes his skin to flake and form scales. His condition is thought to have been caused by Agent Orange—the defoliate chemical used by the USA during the Vietnam War. This condition causes him to overheat and his skin can become very uncomfortable without regular baths. Fellow orphans have nicknamed him ‘Fish’. Minh used to be violent to staff members and other children at the orphanage, so they had to restrain him by tying him to his bed.

When Minh was young, he met Brenda, aged 79 from the UK and she travels to Vietnam annually to see him. They have formed a close bond over the years and have become good friends. Brenda has helped Minh in many ways at the orphanage—she persuaded the staff not to tie him up when he is violent and she has found him a friend to take him swimming every week, which is now Minh’s favourite hobby.

Probably the most well-known person on this list is Joseph Merrick, the Elephant Man. Born in 1836, the Englishman became a celebrity in London and also gained fame around the world. He was born with proteus syndrome—a condition which causes huge lumps to develop on the skin and the bones to deform and thicken.

Joseph’s mother died when he was eleven and he was rejected by his father. He left home at a young age and worked in Leicester before contacting a showman. He was the main act and gained his stage name—the ‘Elephant Man’.

Due to the size of his head, Joseph had to sleep sitting up. His head was so heavy that it was impossible for him to sleep lying down. One night in 1890, he attempted to sleep ‘like normal people’ and dislocated his neck in the process. He was found dead the next morning.

Didier Montalvo, from rural Colombia developed congenital melanocytic nevus, which causes moles to grow all over the body at an incredibly fast rate. As a result of this disease, a mole grew so large that it covered Didier’s entire back. He was dubbed ‘turtle boy’ by his peers as the huge mole looked like a shell.

Apparently, Didier was conceived on an eclipse and the locals believed his mole was the work of the devil. For this reason, he was shunned by other children and banned from the local school. When British surgeon Neil Bulstrode heard about Didier’s condition, he travelled to Bogota so he could operate and remove the mole. Didier was six years old when the surgery was performed. It was a success and the whole mole was excised. After the operation, Didier now goes to school and lives a normal, happy life.

Mandy Sellars, from Lancashire, UK, was diagnosed with proteus syndrome—the same medical condition as Joseph Merrick. Proteus syndrome is extremely rare and it’s thought to affect only 120 people worldwide. It has caused Mandy’s legs to become extremely enlarged, weighing a total of 95 kilograms and measuring one meter in circumference. As her feet are so large, she has to buy specially fitted shoes which cost around $4000 dollars. She also has a personalized car, allowing her to drive without using her feet.

Doctors decided to amputate one of Mandy’s legs after she contracted deep vein thrombosis and MRSA. After the operation, the remaining section of leg kept growing and became too heavy for her prosthetic. She has now received a new prosthetic leg which should last the rest of her life.

Petero Byakatonda is a boy from a small, rural town in Uganda who suffers from crouzon syndrome. This affects about one in every 25,000 births, but Petero’s case is an extreme one. Crouzon syndrome causes malformation of the skull, which in turn pushes the eyeballs out of their sockets and the ears down, leading to problems with sight and hearing. In developed countries, the deformities caused by crouzon syndrome are usually treated very soon after birth but Petero did not receive this treatment as he lives hundreds of miles away from a hospital.

Petero’s neighbors tormented and shunned him for his appearance and he locked himself away in his room, hardly ever leaving the house. A doctor noticed his condition when driving through Petero’s village. The doctor raised enough money for Petero to travel to Austin, Texas, for life-changing surgery. He spent six months there while doctors re-shaped his skull. This put a lot pressure off his optic nerve and brain. A second operation was needed to reconstruct the bone around Petero’s eyes. Complications occurred during the second surgery—he lost 80% of his total blood volume and his condition turned critical. Luckily, he survived and he now lives a happy life in his village.

José Mestre from Lisbon, Portugal, developed a huge facial deformity which started growing on his lips when he was fourteen. Over the years, this tumor grew to be over five kilograms in weight. It caused him to become blind in one eye and made it very hard for him to breathe, eat and sleep. He spent forty years of his life without treatment because of “years of medical misinformation, some misdiagnosis, lack of finances, and reluctance to undergo treatment due to religious beliefs.”

In 2010, José travelled to Chicago to undergo four operations to remove his tumor and restore his facial features. The tumor mass was removed completely in the first operation and the next three aimed to reconstruct the face. The operations were successful and José travelled back to Lisbon a few weeks after treatment.

Dede Koswara is an Indonesian man who, for most of his life, has endured the extremely rare fungal infection, Epidermodysplasia verruciformis. This causes large, hard fungal growths to protrude from the skin which looks remarkably like tree bark. This had become extremely uncomfortable for Dede, preventing him from performing basic functions with his hands, as they were so large and heavy. The fungus grows all over the body but it’s mainly found on the hands and feet.

In 2008, Dede received treatment in the USA to remove six kilograms of warts from his body. After this was done, skin grafts were applied to the hands and face. Unfortunately, this surgery did not stop the fungus from growing and he had further operations in 2011. There is no cure for Dede’s condition.

Fetus in fetu is an extremely rare developmental abnormality that occurs in one out of every 500,000 births. The reason for this condition is unclear, but many scientists believe that it occurs in the early stages of pregnancy, when one fetus is enveloped by the other. Many parasitic twins are small and undeveloped, but others can grow to a large size. Alamjan Nematilaev, from Khazakstan, had a parasitic twin that developed hair, limbs, teeth, nails, genitals, a head and a basic face. Alamjan’s twin had been living inside him for over seven years before it was discovered…

In 2003, Alamjan’s school doctor noticed the swollen abdomen and sent him to the hospital. Doctors examined him and believed that the lump was a cyst. The following week, Alamjan was operated on and to the doctor’s surprise, they found a baby measuring two kilograms in weight and twenty centimeters in length. The doctor who carried out the surgery said that Alamjan looked like he was in the sixth month of pregnancy. The boy’s parents believed that his condition was caused by radiation from the Chernobyl disaster, but experts have dismissed this idea. Alamjan fully recovered from the operation, but to this day, he still does not know that his twin grew inside him.

Caleb is a Listverse author and moderator from Cornwall, UK. You can follow him on twitter.

Whether deformities are caused by genetics or environmental factors, they spark curiosity and awe throughout the world. Many who have them have accepted their differences and led fulfilling lives. Some have undergone risky surgeries to change their appearance. Some have joined the circus and embraced the label “freak” to make living. Others have concealed themselves to avoid people’s reactions.

10Cutaneous Horns

Cutaneous horns (cornu cutaneum) result when keratin manifests in a conical shape and protrudes outward from the skin. Lesions found at the base of these horns may be malignant or benign.

When cutaneous horns grow, they tend to be on people with fair skin, at an average age of 50. Sun-exposed areas of skin are most susceptible. A biopsy can help determine the cause because cutaneous horns are related to a variety of medical issues. Possibilities range from verruca to Bowen’s disease. The majority of horns are benign, but about 20 percent are cancerous, and another 20 percent are pre-cancerous.

Some people even choose to let their benign horns grow. If a horn does sprout on your forehead, you can at least now rest assured that you’re probably not turning into a demon.

Note: Most cutaneous horns are shorter than the one pictured above.

9Aniridia

Black eyes aren’t necessarily a sign of pure evil. A condition called aniridia can cause absence of color in the iris, which may lead to weakened vision and sensitivity to light. This figures, as the literal translation of aniridia is “without iris.” Further conditions, such as glaucoma and cataracts, are likely to occur along with aniridia. Sufferers may be legally blind, may see well enough to drive, or may even have 20/20 vision.

A gene mutation causes this condition. It occurs around the end of the first trimester of pregnancy, as the eye develops. Aniridia can be inherited; a parent with this condition has a 50-percent chance of passing it on to his or her child. Parents who each have a mutated copy of the PAX-6 gene may be at risk for having a child with Gillespie syndrome (autosomal recessive aniridia) and related cognitive disabilities.

8Backward-Bending Knees

People with genu recurvatum have knees that bend backward surprisingly far, sometimes creating an animal-like appearance. The most severe cases involve a congenital dislocation of the knees. Other cases involve differences in leg length or diseases such as cerebral palsy and multiple sclerosis. Another cause is physical trauma to the knee. It could happen while playing sports or in a car accident, for instance.

Surgery and physical therapy can help treat the condition. Leg braces may also be used. Depending on how well treatment works, this condition may become a permanent disability for some individuals.

To date, the most well-known case of genu recurvatum is that of Ella Harper, born in Tennessee circa 1870. Ella preferred to walk on all fours. She was dubbed “Camel Girl” and found great success in the role. She even starred in W.H. Harris’s Nickel Plate Circus in 1886 and used the profits to better her life.

7Prune Belly

Known more formally as Eagle-Barrett syndrome, prune belly syndrome causes extreme weakness in the abdomen. This leads to severe wrinkling and a prune-like appearance. The bladder of an Eagle-Barrett patient becomes permanently expanded and difficult to relieve, leading to further medical challenges. The genitalia, internal organs, and skeleton may also be negatively affected.

The cause of this condition is currently undetermined. It’s possible that prune belly syndrome is hereditary, as multiple cases have been noted within families. Parents usually have fair warning. When a fetus is affected, the prune-like appearance of the belly is often visible through prenatal ultrasound, allowing for early diagnosis. Undescended testicles are another symptom.

Nearly all Eagle-Barrett syndrome cases involve males—95 percent, to be exact. Children with this condition are often stillborn, and those who make it past delivery may die soon from related complications, but some do survive.

6Lobster Claws

People born with ectrodactyly tend to have deformities of both their hands and their feet. Varying degrees of surgery are used to correct this condition.

Known commonly as split hand/foot malformation (SHFM), lobster claw syndrome involves missing fingers or toes along with gaping clefts in the sufferer’s hands or feet. Fingers or toes are fused with other digits or webbed.

If only one limb is deformed, it likely occurred due to a non-hereditary genetic mutation. If the hands and feet are all deformed, the condition was inherited. Parents who carry the gene have a 50-percent chance of passing it down to their offspring. Some choose to have children despite the high risk.

Lobster claw syndrome is not related to more complicated medical conditions or mental barriers. The only challenge is learning to function with hands and feet shaped differently than most.

5Neurofibromas

Those with neurofibromatosis have tumors (“neurofibromas”) on their nerves or under the skin. The tumors can often be removed. Even when they can’t be excised, they’re benign and won’t cause physical harm in the majority of cases.

Of the two types of neurofibromatosis, Recklinghausen disease is the most common. It can be, and often is, inherited. Parents with Recklinghausen have a 50-percent chance of passing it on to their children. If there is no family history of the disease in a Recklinghausen patient, the condition is caused by a genetic mutation at conception.

Cases of this disease range from mild to severe to debilitating. The bulbous lumps can absolutely blanket skin in more extreme cases.

4Supernumerary Nipples

When more than two nipples grow on a body, the condition is known medically as polythelia. Extra nipples typically form along the milk lines, which run from the upper torso to the groin area. Cases have been recorded in which supernumerary nipples appear elsewhere on the body, though. Other places they may occur include the thighs, face, and neck.

Regardless of where these abnormalities pop up, they are physically harmless. Underdeveloped nipples are often mistaken for moles, so removal is typically done for cosmetic reasons. Celebrities such as Mark Wahlberg have famously accepted and embraced their third nipples. Harry Stiles of the band One Direction admitted to having four altogether. However, not everyone shows their supernumerary nipples so much love. Carrie Underwood had hers removed, which she admitted at her American Idol audition.

This particular deformity is relatively common, affecting 1–6 percent of the American population. You may well know somebody who has an extra nipple of their own.

3The Caudal Appendage

A caudal appendage is a human tail, which is not like an animal tail. Human tails don’t help people balance better or swat away flies. In some cases, they’re symptomatic of much more serious conditions, such as spina bifida.

All humans have a spinal protrusion in the womb. It’s typically absorbed in utero, but not all fetuses develop predictably. When a caudal appendage is not absorbed, the child ends up with a tail. It consists of fat, muscle, nerves, and blood vessels without any bone or cartilage.

Fewer than 40 cases of this medical rarity have been recorded. It affects males twice as often as it affects females. A caudal appendage may be removed if surgery is deemed safe.

2Polymastia

When an unexpected breast grows on the human body, the condition is called polymastia. Extra breasts tend to appear in the same place supernumerary nipples grow: the milk line, which runs down the torso and to the groin. They can, however, also appear on the buttocks, the back, the hip, or even the face.

Accessory breasts contain the same tissue as typical breasts. This means that a third breast can harbor a malignant tumor and threaten the patient’s life. It’s also possible for third breasts to feature nipples and lactate, though it’s not guaranteed. These are simply possibilities that come with all breasts, wherever they happen to grow.

Polymastia is an anomaly of nature that extends beyond the human species. A few primates have been diagnosed with this condition. It’s rarer in the animal kingdom, but science has confirmed there’s such a thing as a three-breasted monkey.

1Hypertrichosis

Hypertrichosis is also known medically as Ambras syndrome and cheekily as “werewolf syndrome.” Genetics cause people with hypertrichosis to have an excessive amount of hair, which may grow all over the body or only in concentrated areas. Ambras syndrome may also be acquired later in life—in relation to cancer, for example.

Fewer than 60 cases have ever been recorded, but this is not just a rarity for the history books. People with hypertrichosis live today. In 2010, Supatra “Nat” Sasuphan of Thailand earned a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the hairiest teenager.

She’s one of many who’ve made the best of especially unique physical traits. People can embrace and find success through their differences, especially when those oddities are strange enough to be seen as extraordinary.

Shannon M. Harris is a writer from the Seattle area. She enjoys watching stand-up comedy, visiting quirky roadside attractions, and exploring nature—as long as nature isn’t trying to kill her. Connect with (and hire) her at WriterBug.org.

From afar, celebrities look like they have it all, from perfect looks, great skills, fame, and the money to boot. But since we are all human, celebrities have their own limitations that make them unique and special. This list dives deep into the world of celebrities, showing that they battle the same insecurities as most of us.

In a positive twist, the list shows that these celebrities are still heroes who choose to wear their flaws proudly. Whether on-screen or off, these stars don’t let their deformities define them, and most importantly, they don’t hide them from the world. These are the 10 celebrities you didn’t know had deformities.

10 Denzel Washington’s Magic Finger

Denzel Washington is one of the most prolific performers of all time, and his portfolio as actor and director is one of the most impressive in Hollywood. Whether he’s cast as a special services commando in Equalizer (2014) or a defense attorney in Roman J. Israel, Esq. (2017), Washington is always out to impress and entertain. But what fans don’t know about Washington is that he has a damaged pinky on his right hand.

Washington, who is never ashamed to talk about his crooked finger, damaged it when he was playing American football as a teenager. Sharing his experience on “The Graham Norton Show,” Washington narrated that as he went for a pass during a game, his finger got dislocated. Even after having the finger rebuilt, it never healed perfectly, and everything is like a “gummy bear in there.”

The plus side is that Denzel Washington’s finger never distracted him from his work, and when he got home, his kids loved seeing the crooked pinky. When his kids had sleepovers, he would hear, “Dad, could you show my friends the magic finger?”

9 Ed Sheeran’s Tough Guy Scar

Ed Sheeran is easily one of the most successful artists globally, with over 150 million records sold world-wide. As a singer, songwriter, and record producer, Ed Sheeran’s life story tells a triumphant tale of a rise from rags to riches. If you’ve ever met Ed Sheeran, you might have noticed that he has something peculiar on his right cheek, a very subtle scar.

Ed Sheeran’s scar has a very interesting background since the star earned it after spending the night with a member of the British Royal family. At a party hosted by Princess Beatrice at the Royal Lodge in Windsor, Ed Sheeran was a high-profile music guest. Amidst the fun and pomp, Princess Beatrice decided to jokingly knight James Blunt, but she didn’t see Sheeran behind her when she wielded the ceremonial sword. Ed Sheeran got a curious scar tattoo by a real sword.

Lucky for the royal princess, Ed Sheeran holds no grudges as he reportedly returned to the party after medical staff patched up his face. That’s a real tough guy for you. Of course, while we all know about the scar, Sheeran cannot talk about the scar publicly.

8 Vince Vaughn’s Shortened Thumb

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Vince Vaughn is a stand-out figure in comedy, and his roles in films like The Break-Up (2006) and Wedding Crashers (2005) are endearing and relatable. Off-screen, Vince Vaughn is just an ordinary guy with a distinctive feature that many would miss, a slightly shortened thumb.

A close look at Vince Vaughn’s pictures reveals that the actor has a slightly shorter thumb with a sad back story. When he was a teenager, Vaughn lost the tip to his right hand’s thumb in a car accident. While most people would call the thumb deformed, Vaughn laughs it off, choosing to look at the bright side.

7 Tom Hardy’s Permanently Bent Pinky

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Tom Hardy is strikingly good-looking, but he easily passes off as one of the toughest guys on screen. In his earlier days, Tom Hardy was an unruly young man who never shied away from a fight, a character he reawakens in his most imposing roles. In Warrior (2011), Taboo (2017), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), where he plays Bane, he’s the guy everyone is scared to meet.

Still, one thing Tom Hardy never fakes on screen is the bent pinky that he earned from a kitchen knife accident. During the mishap many years ago, Hardy stabbed his little finger, severing a tendon. You’ll notice that the finger is a bit bent if you look at his pictures, but the actor doesn’t lose sleep over it. In fact, the trained mixed martial arts fighter doesn’t seem to mind it.

Tom Hardy’s deformity is proof that nothing can impede us from achieving our goals if we are determined. He can participate in any sport and act in any role. Tom Hardy is a true chameleon.

6 Lebron James’ Scar On The Skull

In the world of basketball, Lebron James, or “King James” as he’s better known, is a household name that inspires admiration and respect. With four MVP awards, 16 All-NBA, and All-Star awards, James is a force to reckon with on and off the basketball pitch. Yet, despite his skill and class as an artist, James has some deformities that his greatest fans are all too familiar with.

During Game 4 of the NBA Finals in 2015, Lebron James was on the court doing what he does best, but he veered off the court towards the media section after a foul. As James lost his balance, he crashed straight into a TV camera that captured his fall and dealt him a blow to the skull. The incident was serious since the star athlete started bleeding immediately. 

Always the sportsman, Lebron James brushed off his injuries and continued to take the free throws after the medics glued his wound shut. Over time, there have been many conspiracy theories surrounding the wounds, with some saying they were caused by hair transplant surgery.

5 Joaquin Phoenix’s Scar On the Lip

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Joaquin Phoenix’s role as the Joker (2019) earned him critical acclaim, and for anyone that saw the film, his madman’s laugh was as creepy as it was impressive. His dark performances aside, Joaquin Phoenix stands out because of one particular facial feature, a scar on his lip.

The facial marl, which runs close to the center of his lip, is one unique facial deformity. According to the star, the scar, which closely resembles a cleft palate operation, is just a simple birthmark. So, in an industry where facial features matter most, it’s safe to say that Phoenix’s scar is almost an added advantage.

4 Jonah Hill’s Burnt Arm

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The world of comedy would be nothing without Jonah Hill, the funny man behind Superbad (2007), 21 Jump Street (2012), and War Dogs (2016). But while Jonah Hill will take on any topic, he avoids focusing on the scar on his right arm.

We all made mistakes when we are young and wild and for Jonah Hill, being a teenager meant joyriding around LA. The unruly episode turned awry when the SUV crashed, dragging his outstretched arms on the asphalt. It was a horrific scene, and for doctors, the question was whether to save the hand or amputate it.

Luckily for Hill, the doctors managed to save the limb, and he considers it a constant reminder that he must succeed. It took a dangerous ride for Hill to get his priorities right, and perhaps this is why he’s such a big deal today. As the saying goes, “our scars define us,” and for Hill, they helped him transform his life.

3 Jennifer Garner’s Overlapping Pinky Toe

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Jennifer Garner burst onto the scene with her stellar performance on Alias (2001), and since then, she’s become a beloved figure for her fans. But while Garner’s onscreen performances are memorable, her red carpet appearances always intrigue the paparazzi that capture her from head to toe. One observation from Garner’s snaps is that she has a crooked and overlapping pinky toe.

For Hollywood celebrities, perfection is everything, and for tabloids, Garner’s overlapping pinky toe has become a major fascination. Every time she goes out in open shoes, gossip magazines are hot on her heels, looking to report how unsightly and bazaar it is. Yet, the brave Garner is never perturbed by these reports since her overlapping pinky is not a big bother.

In the medical world, Garner’s condition is known as brachymetatarsia, and in most cases, it causes no discomfort and requires no corrective surgery. Like a true diva, Jennifer Garner treats her physical imperfections as a rare quality.  

2 Tina Fey’s Battle Scar

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Tina Fey is a Hollywood legend, and her work on Saturday Night Live, 30 Rock, and The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt makes her one of the most influential women in comedy. But amidst her great accomplishments as an artist, Fey has a dark past that left her with a noticeable scar on her left cheek.

Like most women, Tina Fey covers her face with makeup, but the distinctive mark is visible when she’s not wearing any. Writing in her autobiography titled “Bossypants,” Fey shared the saddening story behind the scar. When she was just a kindergartener, Fey was attacked by a man armed with a knife in an altercation that she lives to remember. The violent attacker slashed her in the face, and after the wound healed, she was left with the scar that tells a tale.

Thankfully, the scar didn’t affect the young girl’s life, and in her neighborhood, the distinctive mark turned her into a celebrity. Ever fierce, the bossy Tina Fey pulled herself together to become a symbol of strength and feminine power.

1 Harry Styles’ Extra Pair Of Nipples

Harry Styles rose to fame as a member of the sensational boy band “One Direction.” After the group disbanded, Styles became a successful solo artist, churning out hit songs after another, proving that he’s the most talented of the group. But while Styles’ talent as an artist moves his fans, the hunk is also famous for a unique deformity, four nipples.

Most of us would be uncomfortable opening up about our bodies, and while Styles was shy at first, he was not awkward about it. In an interview with Chelsea Handler, the artist put the rumors about his body to rest after sharing that he had two extra nipples! The nipples, which Styles wasn’t afraid to show off on camera, are located slightly lower than the “usual” nipples.

So, is Harry Styles worried about his extra nipples? In an interview with DJ Nick Grimshaw, the artist shared that his four nipples were easily his best trait. The artist who has dated Taylor Swift, Kendall Jenner, and Caroline Flack brags that his four nipples are the best thing about dating him.