‘Unusual Beauty’ Photo Series Celebrates Rare Skin Conditions
Photographer Caesar Lima has pointed his lens toward people with rare skin conditions, including congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) and vitiligo. Lima’s “Unusual Beauty” project skillfully shows how people can embrace and celebrate the beauty that results from an unusual appearance.
CMN results in visibly pigmented moles appearing on an individual from birth. Compared to melanocytic nevi, commonly referred to as moles, congenital melanocytic nevi are often larger and grow proportionally to the body size of the affected individual as they grow. About 1% of all infants have CMV.
Where CMV results in localized areas of a person’s skin appearing darker and more pigmented, vitiligo is an autoimmune disorder that causes parts of a person’s skin to lose pigment and appear lighter relative to the rest of a person’s skin.
Recently, models with vitiligo have received more attention, including the famous fashion model Winnie Harlow. Aside from “Unusual Beauty,” seeing people with CMV is much more unusual.
Like many skin conditions, CMV and vitiligo can cause people, especially children, to feel very self-conscious. As for CMV, the National Library of Medicine explains that affected individuals “may feel anxiety or emotional street due to the impact the nevus may have on their appearance and their health.”
The National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases explains that those with vitiligo are at greater risk of developing self-esteem and self-image issues, which can affect their quality of life.
The hope is that photos like those featured in Lima’s “Unusual Beauty” series will help people affected by similar conditions feel more confident and comfortable in their skin, therefore averting those problems.
Caesar Lima has been featured on PetaPixel before for his hands-on report about using the Ricoh GR III to shoot street photography in Japan.
Although Lima often does studio work and used Leica SL-series cameras for “Unusual Beauty,” he notes that using a smaller camera like the GR III helps him be more unassuming when doing street photography.
More of Lima’s work is available on his website and Instagram. Lima also has a separate Instagram account for “Unusual Beauty.”
Image credits: All images © Caesar Lima
