Movie villains and their scars may haunt those with skin conditions

Researchers compared skin features of the American Film Institute's top 10 film villains and heroes

The scars and facial features of some of cinema's most terrifying villains may end up haunting people who share those traits, suggests a new study.

Of the American Film Institute's top 10 American film villains, most had skin conditions like scars, excessive hair loss, abnormal skin color and deep wrinkles, researchers found.

"It appears that skin conditions are used in films to drive home this dichotomy between good and evil and may facilitate a tendency toward discrimination targeted at those with skin disease," said lead author Dr Julie Amthor Croley, of the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Using skin conditions like scars