Taia's Razor

It's important to keep the affected area in good condition. Ignoring the disease, whilst appealing to some, may lead to a rapid spread of the condition and a significant worsening of ones quality of life, even to the point where independent living is impossible.

Transmission & Vectors

Taia's Razor is a recessive genetic disease, meaning there is only a 25% chance that the child will inherit both recessive genes and have the disease. There is a 50% chance that the child will inherit one of the traits and become a carrier of the disease, and another 25% chance that the child will inherit neither of the faulty genes and will not carry the disease.

Causes

Most people with Taia's Razor have inherited a particular faulty gene from their parent. The signs and symptoms of Taia's Razor appear at birth or within the first year of life. The faulty gene affects the rate at which the skin regenerates – either the shedding of old skin cells is too slow, or the skin cells reproduce at a much faster rate than they can shed old skin. Either way, this causes a quicker decay of scales and drying up of the skin beneath.

Symptoms

Taia's Razor manifests in various unpleasant forms. The most common symptoms are as follows:

• Discoloration of the scales, as they rapidly decay as a Vesk's would normally do so just before their yearly shedding.

• Rapid shedding of the scales, leading to patches of the Vesk's leathery hide being exposed to the open air and drying up.

• Peeling of scales along the face, and the hide of the Vesk being stretched taut over their body as it dries up.

• Joint swelling, stiffness, or pain

• Without treatment and regular upkeep, profuse bleeding from cracked skin and permanent disfigurement.

• Symptoms are often worse when it's cold and dry and improve in warm, humid conditions – this means they may be more noticeable in the winter than the summer

Treatment

Individuals suffering from Taia's Razor require specialised body care with significantly gentler utensils than the typical Vesk would utilise. Metallic wire brushes are replaced with flax, the standard metallic files become gentle creams and steam treatments. Majority of treatments are relatively easy to obtain; whether made at home or purchased from pharmacies. One of the biggest issues when managing Taia's Razor is the amount of time required to keep the disease manageable. Applying emollients is required after every shower in order to trap moisture, together with frequent deep moisturising treatments that can be done at home, but are most effectively done by a dermatologist.

Antibiotics and antiseptics are a common prescription for infections and ulcers which are a common concurrent issues that go along with Taia's Razor. Experimental treatments such as removing the affected area of skin at infancy have proved unsuccessful, as have steroid treatments.

Prognosis

The condition, due to lack of a cure affect the afflicted vesk for the entirety of their life. Symptoms first show themselves in the first year of life; at first affecting a small area of the body. The face, arms and back are the most commonly affected areas. This area will grown over the course of the vesk's lifetime. The speed at which the afflicted area spreads depends on the amount of care provided. Some vesk suffering from this condition will only have small patches of skin affected by the disease, whilst others are rendered almost entirely scaleless, their tight leather hide serving as the only protection they possess.

Hosts & Carriers

Non sapient lizards in the Manus system have been known to also suffer from Taia's Razor. The condition seems to be lethal for species outside of the vesk, shortening the lifespan of affected creatures by 20%.

Type

Genetic

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Congenital

Rarity

Rare

Affected Species

• The Vesk