When strangers see 18-year-old Portia Cina, they often ask the same question: “Are you sunburnt?”
Portia was born with ichthyosis confetti, an extremely rare genetic condition that causes her skin to grow and shed up to 14 times faster than average. The result is bright red patches scattered across her body, along with tiny white “confetti-like” spots where healthy skin grows back. According to the Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types (FIRST), there is no cure.
Growing up in New Jersey, Portia never had a single moment of “realizing” she was different—it was simply her reality. Her parents quickly connected with specialists and found community through FIRST conferences. At school, however, she faced stares and whispers until she found supportive friends who treated her like everyone else.
Portia eventually joined TikTok, posting one video to explain her condition. To her surprise, it went viral, reaching 13 million viewers and sparking conversations among doctors, med students, and others with ichthyosis.
Now preparing to study animation at the Savannah College of Art and Design, Portia hopes to keep raising awareness—while also showing she’s more than her skin.
