Michael Jackson Battle with Lupus and Vitiligo
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Pictorial Observation
In the wake of Michael Jackson's death, questions still linger. Among many is the debate about Michael's Vitiligo disease versus skin bleaching. (Undoctored) Pictures never lie, but often times, they can be misinterpreted. This hub contains a pictorial of Michael Jackson's struggle with his skin.
To the right is a photo copyrighted by mjsfc.com that shows the advanced stages of the disease, as he filmed They Don't Really Care About Us in Rio de Janeiro in 1995. This picture depicts splotches on Michael's arm and his chest. Makeup or video touch up effectively covers these disfigurations in the actual video.
Next is a photo of teen Michael Jackson. You may notice the discoloration beneath his right eye. Michael was plagued by acne as most teenagers were. The next picture shows the left arm, freckled and white. The last picture shows Michael's right hand and fingernails. The fingernails indicate that Michael wasn't in good health.
Some have speculated that his fingernails are darker because he couldn't bleach beneath his nails. This is a fallacy because black people, such as I am, have flesh, or whitish skin beneath their nails, on their palms and the bottoms of their feet. When I first noticed Michael's nails, I was shocked to see odd coloring. I'm in the midst of researching theories and causes for his nail discoloration.
Michael Jackson's close friend, who is also a doctor, Deepak Chopra, told people.com on June 27, 2009 that Jackson suffered from Lupus and Vitiligo. Michael had explained to Oprah in a 1993 interview that he wasn't trying to be white. He said he didn't bleach his skin, and he had a disease that came from this father's side of the family. He didn't name the disease, but he insisted to Oprah that he used makeup to cover the ever-present blotches.
Corroboration of Michael's statement comes from his makeup artist of over twenty years, Karen Faye, who states in the video below that she used makeup to even out his skin. In the video, she said they used to match his color to brown until the white blotches overtook him, and it became an easier process to make the brown white.
To the right are other sufferers of the disease. A prominent newscaster, Lee Thomas also battles with Vitiligo. He calls it a degrading disease. Other stars with the disease:
· Tempest Bledsoe
· Doc Hammer
· John Henson
· Big Krizz Kaliko
· Thomas Lennon
· Hedvig Lindahl
· Joe Rogan
· J.D. Runnels
· Sisqo
· Rasheed Wallace
Pop Intervention Questions of the Day:
1. Do you have a personal story involving the diseases?
2. In light of people who tan, tattoo themselves, dye their hair, take diet pills, resort to surgery for weight loss, use Botox, and get silicone breasts, why does it matter whether or Michael bleached his skin?
3. What do you believe about this story and why?
In light of Jackson fans committing suicide, please remember to celebrate his life with life, and not death.
More about Michael Jackson
- Martin Bashir Escalated the Molestation Trial of Michael Jackson
Following Michael Jackson’s death, reporter Martin Bashir hailed Michael as a great entertainer after his “Living with Michael Jackson” documentary destroyed Michael's life. - Michael Jackson Dermatologist Vitiligo Official Statement
After Michael Jackson eluded to Oprah in 1993 that he had a skin disease, Jackson instructed his dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein, to release an official statement disclosing the King of Pop’s Vitiligo... - Dr. Klein Dermatologist Speaks to Larry King about Michael Jackson Vitiligo & Lupus
Dr Klein, Michael Jackson’s Dermatologist, aesthetic face reconstructionist, and friend spoke to Larry King in candid a interview about meeting Michael Jackson and diagnosing him with Lupus and Vitiligo....
Your View of Michael Jackson's Skin Condition
Did Michael Jackson have a skin disease or did he bleach his skin?
See results without votingMore on Vitiligo
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DY-O-Derm Vitiligo Stain, 4 oz
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Turning White: A Memoir of Change
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Vitiligo
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The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Vitiligo
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Comments
Thanks. It's a very complicated topic. I love Michael Jackson and always have, but I realize how much I did not know about him. So I started posting several hubs about it. I guess I just tuned out ALL news of him because I didn't want to hear anything bad about him. I was really fed up after that trial.
Micheal was the best! will miss him and was really looking forward to his comeback!
It makes a lot of sense that, over time, Michael Jackson's skin pigmentation changed so that rather than even out the majority of pale patches, it was easier to even out the dark patches and make them lighter. My brother has vitiligo and I really am sorry that Michael had so much negative press about this. I guess cynicism sells.
Really, FriendNotFoe. I'll have to check to see if you wrote a hub about your experiences with your brother, but if you haven't, you might consider that.
i feel michael jackson was BRILIANT and DIFFRENT so stOp with all the bulshit
How could the media accused him of bleaching while he was suffering from disease? It was painful for him.
After Michael Jackson's death, I bought magazine's that were tributes to MJ and found at least one that mentioned MJ had opened up to having been diagnosed with Lupus and as well all know the Vitiligo. After my curiousity got the best of me, I researched it. In my heart I felt God was telling me to do this, but the correct Cause of Death should be on MJs death certificate, right? Well the research I found and read cooberates that these two diseases most likely caused his untimely death. I also found pictures of MJ on another site that he openly showed his Vitiligo spots even as early as when he was 18. I think the Diprivan was just a healing treatment for MJ to sleep well and the more he took it, the more his Lupus intensified and eventually got to his heart. Lord rest his soul but in my heart this is why he truly died. I wish I can relay this to his family or the coronor to look into.
Who cares! There's more to life than accusation and comparison. Michael Jackson was a brilliant artist who will be sorely missed. Why does anyone care except to beat one down so that they can lift up their own insecurities. If people of the world would put and keep their eyes on their own lives, there would be no time to see anyone else’s perceived shortcomings. Google the song I wrote titled " COMPARED TO WHO?" written by CYU and you will understand my words.
@ DestinyB. I'm not sure if your comment is directed at me, the writer, but I care because Michael Jackson HAS been beat down so much. I'd written these pieces in an effort to defend him. However, I did also want to be fair in the poll at the bottom for those who don't believe it.
i just pity the guy.well its all over now.may His soul rest in peace.
I think the reason why we are so puzzled is ,he didnt shear that with us,None of his fans knew of this PAIN ;aaaaaall we knew was he was always so interesting,the whole family.Its not everyday we see this kind of people. Now I realize the glove was to cover the skin defect But if he would had sheard that,anyway all & all,I hate secrets>>>>>>>But We love HIM.
Why are we human beings so judgemental?
Why? Why? We have a short life span which we should enjoy living. We should refrain from hurting others because we surely would not like them hurting us.
Why is it so easy to hurt rather than live and let live?
J
I don't know why people have to still attack him. It's so hard to accept the truth. I guess they like the drama. I just hate it so much because he was so sensitive and this all must have taken such a toll on him.
@Madeline--Michael first told us about it in the 1993 Oprah interview. People just didn't want to believe him. http://hubpages.com/hub/Michael-Jackson-Oprah-Inte
You can read this hub about how close friend Corey Feldman even turned on him. http://hubpages.com/hub/Corey-Feldman-Michael-Jack
You Rock. You are a fan of Michaels? ( kidding) Thank you for sharing the truth. I hope many more over read your hubs. I have linked you all over the place. I hope it blesses you. Anyone for Michael and into sharing truth is a blessing. People can be rude and full of self. That is not our problem. God knows and millions know the truth, keep sharing. You have a beautiful gift of writing. God works through you. Your friend. Did you read my new hub Helping Others? I will return Cheeriooo.... ....for now Michael was a beautiful spirit We that are believers will see him one day on the other side
@skye2day--Thanks so much for your kind words. Yeah, I think I'm a fan. :) Thanks for the links. I'm about to start writing about that trial, but it's so hard for me to get into because I am pretty biased. Tried to check out your blog, but it said it didn't exist. Oh, and I love God, too. Even BIGGER fan of his!
I think that we as humans need to spend less time saying bad things and living other people's life. What MJ went through nobody knows what pain he felt inside. To everyone that profited during his career and it was unjust,it is you who will have to live with that until the end of your time.He is a trend setter, so all the judges that judge, let god make that decision, not you.
I know I love Michael Jackson and God does too!!! Great Hub my friend!!!
let the man rest n peace thats the problem with the world today we need to concentrate on our lives n fam.
Thanks for the research, pictures don't lie, I always believed that there was a medical explanation for Michaels skin colour,the media is a circus of wolves and lions ready for the kill and they gave MJ a very hard time.
They will someday realise their folly, by which time I hope it wont be too late for them.
Well done I hope a lot of people get to see this
I love me some Michael!!
Michael often misrepresented the truth about his life. He probably began bleaching his skin which led to the uneven tone (in a way created the vitaligo). He erased all African American features from his face. He had Caucasian children made to order. He may have liked African Americans but he hated being that for himself. He lied about his age on the Merv Griffin show in the 1970s, he lied about being the biological father of the children, he lied to himself about being drug dependent, etc. How can anyone believe what came out of his mouth?? The bottom line is he hated how he looked.
I agree with Candi.
of course mj had vitiligo. why on earth would he say he had such a socially stigmatizing disorder if he didn't. I never understood why people did not believe mj when he said he had it. he had never done or said anything up to that poit that would make people want to deny what he was saying is true. MJ did LIE as the years went on but that was only because people only believe what they want to believe and because he was not allowed many times to say what he wanted to say. he had a lot of lawyers and pr people (who sucked by the way) controlling what he revealed. Plus, he felt a lot of shame and so he probably wanted to present himself a certain way and did not want people to know what all crazy stuff was going on with him. Plus he lived his life for kids. Could you imagine him going around the world helping kids and being covered in vitiligo? He would have scared those kids and then he would not have been able to do what he did humanitarian wise. He did wear make up and creams and he has even said that. He was a performer. He put on stage make up. Plus sometimes in interviews the lighting was awful and so he looked worse. I do believe he hated how he looked but not becuase he was black. He did not hate black people, he just hated looking like the dad who abused him and he hated looking like what he thought society and the world hated and thought was ugly. I can promise you he is not the only, the first or the last black person to hate themselves. We have been trying to live up to white standards since slavery times. I think even if mj had not had vitiligo, he would have still had all the plastic surgeries. He just happen to have that disorder too. He did not like himself very much that is for certain, but lots of black men hate themselves and they marry white women and have white kids and live in white neighborhoods and they are not attacked the way mj was. I think it is the same as men who say they were born in the wrong body and they get a sex change to become female. Most of them do NOT hate men, they just don't believe they are supposed to be one or feel comfortable as one. So they change. MJ just did not like himself for so many reasons and so he self injured and mutilates himself. some of it could have been to get back at his father and to scream out for help and get attention. It worked. Whatever his reasons, it doesn't matter now cause he is dead. It was what he did with his life and contributed and what kind of soul and heart he had that matters. Maybe society can learn from mj's tragedy and make some changes and become more sensitive and more helpful and contribute more to making the world a better place.
I wish he didn't die he was the KING OF POP for crying out loud why did he have to die and why did he die. Those disease pictures on the websites are grose and so unfortunate. I wish he could come back to life and do the concerts and have his diseases magically dissapear and have excellent health that would be so awesome. he is my role model even though I'm a girl but it would be the world if i could be a girl version of him. If there is such thing as heaven and he is looking over us now I hope he see's what everyone has done in his name and all the tributes that we have done for him and I think he will be very proud. And if he can see me and hear me I am saying I MISS YOU MAN YOU WERE THE BEST I BELIEVED YOU WHEN YOU SAID YOU DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO THE LITTLE GIRL I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY CALLED YOU WAKO JAKO THAT WAS CRAZY YOU ARE AWESOME YOU WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. GO MICHEAL JACKSON. and the worst part is, is that I got tickets to see his concert from my nan and grandad and we were all gonna go together nan, grandad, me, my brother, mum, dad. We were so looking forward to it and we spent most of our money on the tickets and we got frot row seats then he passed away and i fainted and could't wake up. I was so deppressed i didn't know what to do. anyway you rule man i'll see you up there some day. I am nine and this all happened.
Great Hub! I have 2 MJ hubs as well.
MJ was the best ever. For generations to come he will remain king!
The measure of a man is much deeper than his skin. In the words of the late, great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,
"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character".
I believe the content of Michael Jackson's character was one of integrity, of generousity, and of humble nature. And, by the way, who are WE to judge him, or anyone else any way? Say what you will about Michael, but as for me, I would much rather have him as my only friend than the many cynical others who ride in on their high horses in a joust to knock everyone else down.
God loves you Michael, and so do I! Rest easy my friend, and know that God approves of you. That is why He blessed you with your gift of music. Thank you for sharing that gift with all of us, especially those of us who believed in you always. You will never be forgotten, and you will always be the King!
Michael said that he had vitiligo then that's the truth. When he said he only had 2 nose surgeries then he really just undergone 2 surgeries. I believe in michael
mj had alot going on ,but the only thing that matters is his kindness, care, and MUSIC R.I.P MICHAEL:(
I absolutely LOVE Michael Jackson. I never thought that he did bleach his skin and after I did my research and looked at a ton of his photos, I am able to say with proof that he did not bleach his skin.
I believe Michael's skin bleaching caused his vitiligo. Its so sad!
I always believe that he had some sort of skin pigmentation problems that he told Oprah in 1993. But when i see all these pics, i feel so sorry for him, how could the media portrayed him as someone who doesnt like his black identity and bleach his skin. He had vitiligo and had to be misunderstood by the world. Poor Michael. Hope he has the peace now he never had in his life.
olga88 says:
6 months ago
I believe Michael Jackson had a skin disease. I saw an interview of him. He said himself... he had a skin disorder, and used make-up to cover it up, or even it out. More on Michael Jackson here: http://hubpages.com/hub/Michael-Jackson-King-of-Po