Michael Jackson's skin turned white as a result of the common pigment losing skin disease, vitiligo, also known as leucoderma.
There are many myths surrounding the color change of Michael Jackson in the early 90s. He was widely chastised in the media for ‘turning his back on his African ancestry’. He was accused of bleaching his skin in an attempt to ‘look white’.
When the slanderous attacks became intolerable, in 1993, Michael Jackson revealed, during an Oprah show, that he had a skin disease that turned his skin white. In 1994, Michael Jackson’s dermatologist Dr.Arnold Klein testified that MJ was diagnosed with vitiligo and lupus in 1984. Though lupus erythematosus is a potentially lethal disease, luckily it was in remission in Michael. Both discoid lupus erythematosus and vitiligo can produce loss of pigmentation in the skin.
What is Vitiligo?
Vitiligo is a common skin disorder that affects 1 in 250 people world over. Half of the cases start between the ages of 10 to 30 years. Genetics plays a role in vitiligo and there is a family history of vitiligo in about 30% of patients, as in the case of Michael Jackson. Vitiligo runs in his family.
Vitiligo is considered an autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune cells attack and destroy the coloring pigment melanin bearing cells in the skin. The onset of vitiligo may be triggered following some trauma to the skin, stress or other illnesses. In some patients, vitiligo is limited to a small area and is stationary for a long time. 30% patients report some spontaneous regression of the white patches over the years. But in most patients, like Michael Jackson, the progress of vitiligo is relentless with white patches continuing to appear despite treatment.
Vitiligo is a chronic disease and the response to treatment is variable. Early age of onset of vitiligo, presence of associated autoimmune diseases like thyroiditis or lupus erythematosus, life style diseases like diabetes, uncontrolled stress, black hair turning white and the involvement of lips, fingertips, toe-tips and genitals are predictors of poor prognosis in vitiligo.
Is Vitiligo Curable?
Vitiligo is not curable, but in a good percentage of patients, it can be treated to arrest the progress of the disease and provide acceptable re-pigmentation. Management of vitiligo involves medical and surgical treatments.
Medical treatment of vitiligo consists of phototherapy, topical steroids and immunomodulators. Surgical treatment is available for refractory and stable vitiligo (which remained unchanged for a minimum period of two years). These include punch grafting, epidermal grafting and melanocyte culture and transplantation. Needless to say, these treatments are only feasible when a limited area of skin is afflicted with the leucoderma.
Vitiligo and Michael Jackson
Vitiligo started spotting Michael Jackson’s skin from his early twenties; he had lupus; and was under constant stress. No wonder then his vitiligo did not respond to treatment and progressed relentlessly.
Vitiligo, though a harmless disease, can cause immense stress and heart break in the affected, especially in those with dark skin. Michael Jackson, being a performing artist would have felt his world collapsing around him when the disease started showing up on his face as white spots. Still that did not deter him from churning out record breaking top hits one after another. During the Thriller era Michael would mask the white spots with layers of brown make up that would often trickle down to his costumes and even his microphone.
How Michael Jackson Turned White
When there were more white patches than his normal skin color and the daily chore of hours of makeup became cumbersome, MJ was given the choice of depigmenting his skin so that the color would even out. The bleaching or depigmentation of the skin was carried out under the supervision of his dermatologist. 20% monobenzylether of hydroquinone was used for this purpose. This chemical causes a permanent and irreversible loss of skin pigment and produces a chalk-white color.
The absence of the melanin pigment makes the skin more prone for sun burns, hence Michael Jackson had to wear long sleeves and hat, and, at times, cover his face when he went outdoors.
Michael Jackson's Loss of Skin Color: The Trials and Tribulations
The ghostly white color and the plastic surgeries carried out to correct an accident injury (complications of lupus also contributing?) drastically changed Michael Jackson’s features and appearance. This was when the racist slanders flooded against him in the media about how he was forgetting his roots and turning his back on his African ancestry.
On February 10, 1993 Michael Jackson revealed on the Oprah show that his skin had turned white due to vitiligo and he had to depigment the skin to even out his skin color. He dismissed the allegations that he had bleached his skin to ‘become white’.
“I’m a black American, I am proud to be a black American, I am proud of my race. I am proud of who I am. I have a lot of pride and dignity,” were his words. This did put some brake on the racist attacks on him, but unfortunately there are still many people out there who refuse to accept that Michael Jackson turned white due to the skin disease vitiligo.
Vitiligo: A Harmless Skin Disorder with a Social Stigma
Vitiligo is not a contagious disease or a serious threat to the general health of an individual. But it still carries a social stigma in many communities. Health education and creating a general awareness should help in ridding the myths surrounding the disease. Michael Jackson was the exemplary example that vitiligo need not be a hindrance to building up a great career that would be remembered for generations to come.
The copyright of the article How Did Michael Jackson's Skin Turn White? in Skin Disease is owned by Hanish Babu. Permission to republish How Did Michael Jackson's Skin Turn White? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
I truly believe in all of this. But, this results in small uneaven areas
not white and even all over. i think he did have the disease but made it
look all white instead just those little circles with god knows what
treatment was done but that's not it, i did search the disease and people
that have it look nothing like michael
Jul 1, 2009 2:31 PM
Hanish Babu :
The uniform white color was achieved after depigmentation with 20%
monobenzylether of hydroquinone, when the white patches were covering the
majority of his face and hands.
Jul 2, 2009 7:58 AM
Guest :
im truly annoyed by some peoples ignorance. research vitilago and you'll
find that depigmentation can occur on over 50% of the body and in serious
cases, which had been well documented in parts of africa vitilago can
depigment the whole body. Yh what he may first of only had it in blotches,
but he was a WORLD famous superstar who modelled his career on his style
and image. How could he maintain such high popularity with freakish black
and white blotches on his face. There is a process of repigmentation but mj
had lupus which caused complications so he may well of gone for the process
of depigmentation or bleaching to have an even, half normal skin colour. if
i was him and it was the only possibilty i would have done the same.
Michael jackson never shy'd away from the fact his was proud of being
black. His idol while growing up was james brown. Mj was the best motown
artist of his time and he always had beautiful african americans in his
video. And in his final days hes seen wearing a t-shirt of himself in his
teens. DOes this sound like a man embarassed of his culture. Either way i
salute him, Michael jackson, the legendgary king of pop. He done magical
things and opend up the pathway for todays aspiring artist. So for this mj,
black or white i love you uncoditionally. You are a true Black, afro
american legend FACT!!!
Jul 2, 2009 8:01 AM
Guest :
This is Completely True, My Dad Was One Of Michael's Close friends And Its
true, REST IN PEACE MICHAEL WE LOVE
YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jul 2, 2009 8:29 PM
Guest :
I, being Hispanic, have had vitiligo for about five to six years. I
understand how Michael may have felt being dark skinned and having these
white shots on your body. It's not easy and I pretty sure that stress has a
lot to de with this dieases spreading. If I had the money, I would also
have my skin "bleached" because it's too painful seeing myself in
the mirror everyday and having to cover up my face every single time I
leave my house. The treatments I have been through are painful, to the
point at which I got a second degree durn on my neck. I hope that one day,
just one day, a cure is discovered for this skin condition.
Jul 4, 2009 8:41 AM
Guest :
Michael was proud of who he was, however, being enormously famous he needed
to keep profile. I believe he felt his fans wouldn't know how to react to
his splotchy skin. I myself have a form of lupus, being causcasion, I have
patches of skin that are ghostly white. I can understand why Michael
Jackson chose to fully depigment his skin. It was a choice he made and
should be respected!! REST IN PEACE MJ YOU ARE A LEGEND!!
Jul 4, 2009 11:56 AM
Guest :
Many people won't understand or don't want to understand that there are
people out there with health problems. Health issues plague everyone.
Yes, even someone like Michael Jackson. Michael Jackson was loved by so
many people and many fans, yet no one could possibly understand what he was
going through throughout his lifetime and when he was at low points in his
life. Everyone just believed what the media fed us. We bought everything
hook line 'n sinker. The truth is we will never know what the
ramifications are from being abused your ENTIRE
childhood-physically,emotionally, and verbally. It is apparent Michael was
abused this way. He dealed with this by becoming the best son, brother,
singer, dancer,entertainer, and person he knew how to be, under the
trememdous circumstances, pressures and responsibilities. These
pressures, no doubt, complicated any and all health problems he may have
had.
My experience with vitiligo...My oldest brother and
nephew have it. My brother is about the same age as michael was and now
the vitiligo is so far gone that my brother no longer has any pigment on
his face, arms, hands, or legs. (We are hispanic) His skin is totally white
now. He doesn't take care of himself with the sun though, so he is
constantly has a sunburned face. I never wondered why Michael shielded
himself from the sun. My nephew (through marriage) has vitiligo too. He
is 35 years old and he too is completely white, now.
To those
people who don't believe this disease exists- just thank God you don't have
to deal with any disease that causes shame, embarassment, and social
ostracism. My heart goes out to everybody who has this or any other
disease that comes with such a social stimgma.
To Michael-We
love you! We always have and we always will! There will never be anyone
else that will impact the world as much as you did.
Jul 6, 2009 2:32 PM
Guest :
Ok I feel sorry for those who do have this disease but I don't think
Michael did. If you look at pictures every year, he GRADUALLY TURNED WHITE.
Every picture I've seen of Vitiligo shows completely white patches
surrounded by natural skin color. He looked black, then hispanic, then
white, then pale white. If he was using make-up, wouldn't he use his
natural black make-up skin color?? And after giving up on his fight with
the disease just turn pale white?? NOT gradual like he did.
Jul 7, 2009 1:25 PM
Guest :
Michael did, he kept evening out the patches but of course they kept
appearing....tell me if u'd seen him with the patches would you have been
interested in him? I didnt think so.
Jul 7, 2009 7:45 PM
Guest :
MJ, may you rest in peace,i myself feel so lucky spent my childhood with
'heal the world' and 'you're not alone' every evening when i did my
homework during the years of my primary school
Jul 8, 2009 6:24 AM
Guest :
There are actually pics online where his makeup has melted, and you can see
the white patches on his skin. I have lupus, and have noticed some white
spots myself this year, but my worst problenm is melasma, which are
irregular areas of darker skin. I would have my skin bleached if I could
afford it. It's depressing to have such splotchy skin, not be able to go
without makeup without people staring at you.
Jul 8, 2009 4:40 PM
Karen Plumley :
Great article, Hanish!
Jul 10, 2009 4:14 AM
Guest :
Well M.J did what was supposed to be done, if I were him I would have done
likewise being a superstar n\and a man full of dreams he did the best and
achieved 99% of his dreams. I love you MJ but God loves you most. Good
night n REST IN HOPE
Jul 10, 2009 6:39 AM
Guest :
As I read through all this I was thinking how sad that all this was not
widely explained and understood so people would not have given him such a
hard time, then I read the comments by this person who refuses to believe
it, thus what Michael Jackson experienced, the sad human nature of some who
criticize and ridicule no matter what. How sad I feel for his life. Such
artistry, such torture and agony. I hope he is resting in peace, moreover,
I hope those children have a good outcome for their lives. And for lack of
another forum, I just can't help but wonder, though his Mom may be great
and his choice, If she is with his, father, Joe Jackson, and allowed him to
so abuse Michael and his sibling, is that anyplace for these kids?
Jul 12, 2009 12:47 PM
Guest :
that is harable.i cant belive he died.that is very sad!
Jul 13, 2009 2:31 PM
Guest :
Very informative article. Thank you.
Jul 13, 2009 2:33 PM
Guest :
I am so glad that you wrote this article. I now understand what
Michael had to deal with. How sad that he is gone. But he has left us with a wonderful legacy. Thank you again.
Jul 13, 2009 2:39 PM
Guest :
What you have said is true. I have friends who suffer from the disease and
it is sad to see them being shunned from social gatherings. We need to be
more undersanting of people who we feel are not normal and don't look like
us. We need to stop being judgmental. You never know what people go through
until you have walked in their shoes, and no one except Michael walked in
his shoes. He and God are the only ones who really know what life was like.
My Prayers go out to his Family and his Children. May he Rest in Peace!!!
Jul 14, 2009 5:44 AM
Guest :
I am so glad that I stummbled across this article. I was trying to explain
to my 8 year old daughter and her friend how MJ turned white, and didn't
know how to answer. I never knew all of this stuff mentioned in this
article. It helps me understand so much better. We love you Michael, and
we will miss you terribly! Rest in Peace.
Jul 22, 2009 6:08 PM
Guest :
man i miss him i wish he could come back cause waz bout to do a new tour i
wish he could have lived to do that and especially i feel bad 4 his kids
man i am very sad about his death blanket looks just like mike i miss him
even if i didnt know him it felt like i new him and im 12 and i had not
gone a day without hearing michael jacksons name or his music R.I.P Michael
Jul 25, 2009 12:59 AM
Guest :
Wow..so that's how he turn white..so sad!! I felt sorry for him but i know
his definatly proud of his raise which makes me say'Yeah!! You go
dude!!'.:):)
Aug 6, 2009 4:59 PM
Guest :
this is so true and i believe in all off this i just hope other ppl would
too cauz Michael wasn't the type of person who would hide himself. the
surgical masks....well, they were probably to hide the patches....my
grandmother has vitiligo and i know how she feels about all the crap ppl
talk about....i love MJ and im really glad u put up this article...( i
found it on google) thank you......:)
Aug 7, 2009 1:52 PM
Guest :
I am so glad I stumbled on this artical. I was surfing google to find
anything related to MJ and found this. I overheard my older brother playing
one of MJ's song and have been a fan ever since. This year I had
started secondary school and it was very diffucult to approuch people but
as soon as I heard 'Billy Jean'. So she started singing it and I sang along
and we became bff's.
MJ may you rest in peace <3
Aug 12, 2009 6:24 AM
Guest :
thanks you guys very much for this article. hopefully people who read this
will have a bit more sympathy for michael and his crazy life.... and see
that he wasn't that bad a person after all.
Aug 25, 2009 8:11 AM
Guest :
I think everybody needs to leave MJ alone, I grow up listerning to Michael
Jackson and I believe he is a talented, wonderfull, gentle man... who is
miss understood by allot of people. They have made him out to look like a
freak and weird. Vitiligo is real, I know of people that do have it and it
can cause huge social insecurities. For those who have all the negatives
things to say about MJ's skin problems, you better pray to God that you
never get the skin illness(Vitiligo)... I love you MJ, rest in peace... This is from Teboho Mpho Masike, in South Africa, Johannesburg.
Aug 28, 2009 2:45 PM
Guest :
Poor Michael! He must have felt horrible! I belive that he should be put to
rest as soon as posible! RIP! :,-(
Oct 6, 2009 9:23 AM
Guest :
Guest
Well, if MJ was so proud of his race, why he had never
married a black woman. Why did have to do so many surgeries to change his
nose and his face. If it was related to skin problems, he would have
changed only his skin.
Oct 18, 2009 7:48 PM
Guest :
i truly believe him.WE LOVE YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oct 19, 2009 7:00 AM
Guest :
wow! i cant belive what happened at first ithought he wnted to be white,
but now i know he had a very bad illness. alot of people are telling me he
had to many problems, but the said he changed from being lonley. REST IN
PEACE MICHAEL!!!!!!! I NEVER EVEN SAW ONE OF HIS CONCERTS. And when his
duaghter cried AWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!
Oct 19, 2009 7:04 AM
Guest :
omg why michael he died so young. WHY! no one understood the lonliness
that he had, but i have been reading some comments and one said that why he
never married a black women. i think its because some people wouldnt like
him so he guessed thta eh only could marry white not black. POOR michael.
