Jamie Keeton (born July 9, 1968) is an American man with a medical condition that enables objects to stick to his skin by suction. Nicknamed "Canhead",[1] he has made a career from demonstrating his abilities, and as of 2022 holds the Guinness World Record for the most drink cans attached by air suction to the head.[2]

Keeton (center) in 2016

Background

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Jamie Keeton was born on July 9, 1968.[1] Originally from Pensacola, Florida, he lived in Chicago for about 20 years and later moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin.[1] According to Keeton, he began to notice that his toys and other objects stuck to his body at the age of seven.[1] He discovered the extent of his skin's ability at a baseball game, when he realized that a can from which he was drinking inadvertently became stuck to his shaved head.[2][3]

Keeton's doctor determined that his skin takes in more oxygen than average, which causes his oxygen level to be 23 percent higher than average and allows non-porous objects to stick to his skin through air suction.[2][3] Keeton stated that as a result of his rare medical condition he would maintain an average body temperature of 100 °F (38 °C), his burns would heal faster than a normal person's, and he had "abnormally smooth skin".[3] The skin condition is unnamed, and in 2018 Keeton claimed to be one of four people in the world to be affected by it.[3] Keeton's blood type is A negative and he was born prematurely. Keeton may suffer from a condition called sticky skin syndrome. His condition may also be from proteins in his sweat, or genetic conditions affecting his body temperature.[4]

Career

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Keeton has built a career out of his skin condition, such as by advertising products and businesses or acting as a master of ceremonies at various events,[5] at which he can earn "10 to 20 thousand dollars a weekend".[2] He has appeared on television shows to demonstrate his talent, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Late Late Show with James Corden. In 2016, he appeared on Nature's Weirdest Events, a nature documentary series produced by the BBC, in which Keeton was referred to as a "human–octopus hybrid guy".[6] In 2020 he appeared on the Go-Big Show on TBS, a television show featuring extreme talents.[7]

In 2022, Keeton was awarded the Guinness World Record for the "most drink cans placed on the head using air suction", attaching ten cans to his head for at least five seconds.[2] He had previously set the record with eight cans in 2016,[8] but lost it in 2019.[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Johnson, Mike (July 14, 2022). "Kenoshan of the Week: Jamie "Canhead" Keeton". Kenosha.com. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Rodriguez, Aliciamarie (July 13, 2022). ""I'm a real-life mutant": Jamie Keeton on his amazingly sticky skin". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Weissmann, Elena (July 12, 2018). "Meet Kenosha's Jamie 'Can Head' Keeton, the human suction cup". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  4. ^ Weissman, Elena (July 12, 2018). "Meet Kenosha's Jamie 'Can Head' Keeton, the human suction cup". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  5. ^ Tan, Avianne (January 20, 2016). "Illinois Man's Mysterious Medical Condition Makes Him a Human Suction Cup". ABC News. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  6. ^ Varley, Ciaran (November 23, 2016). "Five reasons why you have to watch Nature's Weirdest Events". BBC. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  7. ^ Foran, Chris (December 31, 2020). "Jamie 'Can Head' Keeton, Kenosha's human suction cup, is hoping to stick on TBS talent competition 'Go-Big Show'". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Archived from the original on September 7, 2022. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  8. ^ Swatman, Rachel (March 31, 2016). "Video: 'Can Head' sets extraordinary record sticking drinks cans to his body". Guinness World Records. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
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