Dabi's face appears stapled because he uses a series of dermal piercings to manage severe burn scar contractures, which resulted from his extensive injuries and lack of proper medical care.
Understanding Dabi's Unique Skin Condition
Dabi, whose true identity is Toya Todoroki, sustained catastrophic full-body burns due to the uncontrollable nature of his powerful cremation quirk. These extensive injuries were never professionally treated, leading to severe and chronic complications that profoundly affected his physical appearance and well-being.
The Impact of Burn Scar Contractures
A widely accepted explanation for Dabi's condition is that he suffers from severe burn scar contractures. These are a common complication of deep burns, where the healing skin tightens and shortens, pulling on underlying tissues.
- Restricted Range of Motion: The contractures significantly inhibit his ability to move his face, neck, and other affected areas freely, leading to functional impairment.
- Chronic Pain and Discomfort: The constant pulling and tightness caused by the contractures can result in persistent pain and discomfort.
- Cosmetic Distortion: Beyond the functional issues, these contractures contribute significantly to the distinct, distorted, and fragmented appearance of his skin.
The Purpose of Dabi's Piercings
In the absence of safe and professional medical intervention for his horrific burn injuries, Dabi resorted to extreme and self-administered measures to alleviate the agonizing discomfort and tightness caused by his contractures.
- Self-Treatment: To release the intense tension from the severe scarring and improve his limited mobility, he made strategic cuts into his own skin.
- Skin Management: The metal pieces that are often mistaken for surgical staples are, in fact, dermal piercings. These piercings are used to hold together the edges of these self-made incisions or to help manage the highly damaged, fragile, and contracting skin. This primitive method was likely his only available "healthcare" to restore some semblance of functionality and reduce pain from the debilitating scar tissue.