A 23-year-old man, who suffered from eczema, is thought to have committed suicide by jumping from his parents’ flat in Sha Tin last week.
The unemployed man, surnamed Lee, had been suffering from incontinence as well as the itchy, blistering skin ailment, Apple Daily reports (as translated by EJI).
Lee had been visiting a Chinese medicine specialist, but the skin condition had reportedly deteriorated to the point of affecting his employment prospects and social life.
A security guard discovered Lee’s body on a podium below his parent’s apartment at around 1am on Thursday. Even though there was no suicide note, police presumed that Lee had jumped from the building.
Dermatologist Steven Loo indicated that eczema can affected up to 90 percent of the body in serious cases.
Professor Lin Zhixiu of the University of Hong Kong School of Chinese Medicine advised those with the condition to avoid seafood, beef, lamb and alcohol. Lin warned sufferers against scratching their skin with their fingertips, and suggested that they use the palm or base of their hand to avoid infection.
If you are experiencing depression or suicidal thoughts, please call the Samaritans‘ 24-hour hotline on (+852) 2896-0000 for help.
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