Why did Michael Jackson's skin turn white?

When a person becomes famous, the story of his life becomes public, and in that sense few have been as exposed and harassed as Michael Jackson, the eternal King of Pop. Famous since childhood, the singer has grown obsessed with fame and success, even though that same success has given the obsession a dark and sickly air.

A perfectionist, Michael sought to do his best not only in his work as a singer, songwriter, and dancer, but also in terms of aesthetics, shaping his own body through countless surgical procedures. Perhaps the most obvious change was the one he made in his nose and, of course, in his skin tone, which turned white over the years, even though Michael was born black.

Those who followed the singer's career from the start noticed the difference in Michael's skin color, especially when the album History was released in 1995. Before, in 1982's Thriller, Michael was completely different. It took just over ten years for the biggest icon of pop music to make the transition.

Vitiligo and Lupus

At the time, Michael and his family stated that the singer had vitiligo, a condition that depigments parts of the skin, causing lighter patches on various regions of the body. Generally, the first signs of the condition are noticed between the ages of 10 and 30 - in 30% of cases the condition is hereditary, meaning it is also present in other family members.

The fact is that Michael reported that, in addition to vitiligo, was a carrier of lupus, an autoimmune disease that can also cause skin depigmentation. In an interview with Oprah in 1993, Michael talked about vitiligo: “It's something I can't control. When people make up stories about me not wanting to be who I am, it hurts me. It is a problem for me. I can not control. And what about the millions of people who sunbathe to become more dark, to become something different than they are? No one says anything about it. ”

Michael's dermatologist, Dr. Arnold Klein, confirmed the singer's condition, which was reportedly diagnosed in 1984. Dr. Klein also claimed that the King of Pop had lupus.

Theories

The fact is that we were facing a radical change from one of the most famous and harassed people on the planet, and of course the media reported additional information about what might have caused the change in Michael's skin. In addition to the widespread repercussions in the press, various rumors and conspiracy theories have emerged to try to explain what happened.

One of these conspiracies defended the idea that Michael used a monobenzone cream, a substance that can cause skin depigmentation, associated with other manipulated medicines. These conspiracies were also based on the fact that many of the plastic surgeries Michael had undergone altered the features of his lips, eyes, and nose, supposedly to leave them with Caucasian features.

Despite so many theories and gossip, the exact cause of Michael Jackson's skin whitening was still unknown. Who approached the subject again was the guys from Today I Found Out, based on the testimonials of coroner Dr. Christopher Rogers, one of those responsible for the singer's autopsy.

Confirmation

Dr. Rogers confirmed that, in fact, the singer had vitiligo, and that the depigmentation caused by the condition was more severe on Michael's face, chest, abdomen and arms. Still, according to dermatologist Dr. Hanish Babu, the King of Pop has undergone skin whitening procedures - including, this is commonly performed by those with vitiligo.

Many people were suspicious of Michael when he talked about vitiligo, claiming that the first signs of the condition were never exposed. In this sense, it is worth remembering that the singer always sought to correct these "imperfections" with makeup.

As the marks began to increase and the make-up process became very difficult and increasingly laborious, the singer decided to change strategy and start the skin whitening process, using the cream made with monobenzone and with a follow-up. Constant doctor.

After the singer's death in 2009, several packages of the monobenzone ointment were found in his home. According to Dr. David Sawcer, vitiligo affects the skin of some patients in such a way that whitening becomes the most recommended treatment when whitish spots cover most of their body.

The change had consequences other than the visual. With extremely sensitive skin, Michael had to take extra care when exposed to the sun, so he could cover his body completely, wearing masks, hats and parasols even on the hottest days.

The fact is, whether curious or not, only Michael Jackson knew the real reason why he had faced the skin whitening process. Today, at least, it is already known that, in fact, the whitening has happened.