Gnuse started getting tattoos after developing a rare medical condition known as porphyria, which caused her skin to blister when exposed to sunlight and left scars as deep as three-degree burn.
Miss Gnuse said there was medication available for her condition, but taking it could have the side effect of possible blindness. Thus she resorted to the body art — although the ink did not stop her skin from blistering, it covered up the scars and allowed her to be exposed to the sun.

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