I don't know about the particular case mentioned here, but there is actually a nasty genetic condition that screws up your skin cell growth. It - of course - has some interesting Latin name which I don't - of course - remember (Icthyosomethingorother, I think), and tends to be quit uncomfortable for the poor folks who suffer from it. Descriptions I've seen speak of "scale-like", very rough and thick, skin that is constantly breaking much like the skin at the soles and heels of your feet can, due to its inflexibility and dryness. Rather painful, I understand.

Now, this one might just be a hoax or a genuine case of skin growth going rather spectacularly haywire. Given that random genetic flukes can result in much stranger stuff - two-headed calves and serpents immediately spring to mind, as do the occasional insect mutations that have a quite perfectly developed set of legs where the antennae should be - such a hyper-growth issue is as such quite credible enough.