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 pigmentation disorder. The New York Times quoted from the statement that Dr. Klein gave the Associated Press, stating that Vitiligo is not contagious, but results from a loss of skin pigmentation. In the months prior to Jackson’s death, Michael made frequent visits to Klein’s Beverly Hills offices. Dr. Klein’s website states that the Dame Elizabeth Taylor was a dear friend of his. Incidentally, Debbie Rowe was a nurse for the skin doctor around the time Michael became a patient.

Author John Randall Taraborrelli attempts to explain Jackson’s course of treatment in the biography entitled Michael Jackson: The Man and the Madness. He says that Michael Jackson had been diagnosed with Vitiligo and Lupus; however, the Lupus apparently went into remission at some point. These conditions perhaps lowered Jackson’s tolerance to the sun. This would explain why Michael was seen dressed head to toe, wearing gloves (not the glitter glove) and sunglasses. He also carried a Mary Poppins like umbrella at times. Allegedly, the doctor combated these illnesses with Solaquin, Retin A and Benoquin. He also had hydroxychloroquin injected directly into his scalp regularly. The treatments he used for his condition further lightened his skin tone. That combined with skin leveling makeup made Jackson appear relatively pale.

An outward indicator of Michael Jackson’s Lupus, Vitiligo, and other possible health problems can be seen in his fingernails. They appear brown or dark beneath the nails all the way back to photos of his Thriller days. In the last six months or so of his life, news reports actually attested to the dastardly state of the pop singer’s hands. Changes in the fingernails can signify a fungal infection or a systemic disease like Lupus or anemia.

 In light of Jackson fans committing suicide, please remember to celebrate his life with life, and not death.