A teenager from India, who has the rare condition hypertrichosis, which causes excessive hair growth on the body, has broken an unusual Guinness World Record — for hairiest face.
“I am speechless,” Lalit Patidar, 18, told the organization after winning the award in February for having 201.72 hairs per square centimeter on his face.
The condition has resulted in 95% of the teen’s face being covered, according to Guinness World Records.
“I don’t know what to say because I’m very happy to get this recognition,” Patidar said.
Only approximately 50 cases of congenital hypertrichosis — since someone’s birth — have been documented since the Middle Ages, Guinness World Records officials said.
Though the teen is proud of his looks, it hasn’t always been easy.
He told the organization that he used to be teased and has dealt with looks from strangers and fear from fellow students when he first started school, he told Guinness World Records.
“They were scared of me, but when they started knowing me and talking to me they understood I was not so different from them,” he said. “It was just on the outside that I looked different, but I’m not different inside.”
Patidar has built a following on social media, with more than 260,000 followers on Instagram. He has also appeared on the Italian show Lo Show dei Record to have his facial hair measured.
“Proud of me,” the teen captioned a photo of himself holding his certificate on Saturday, March 8.
Some people have suggested that he shave off his facial hair, but Patidar doesn’t let the opinions of others sway him.
“There is not much to say to people about that,” he told Guinness World Records. “I tell them that I like how I am and I don’t want to change my look.”
Many of his followers showed their support on Instagram.
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“It’s the way you look,” wrote one user in response to his Instagram post on Sunday, March 9. “No problem for us, and you should have love instead of bullying.”
Numerous others congratulated Patidar after he showed his record-breaking certificate.
“Congratulations, bro,” wrote one follower.
Added another, “[You] are my hero.”