I know there are people that come to this forum who AREN'T MJ fans and may still believe what the tabloids say which is that Michael Bleaches his skin. So I want to create a topic explaining what michael's skin condition is so you can know the truth and respect Michael's health problems.

 

Michael suffers from "Vitiligo"

 

Misc. Vitiligo info found on google:

 

I. Definition:Vitiligo

 

Vitiligo is a common skin disorder in which white spots appear on the skin usually occurring on both sides of the body in the same location. The disease has been around for thousands of years. Vitiligo occurs in 1-2% of the population. It affects both sexes, all races and all ages.

 

 

 

II. Causes:

 

* The skin is made up of two main types of cells or building blocks: keratinocytes and melanocytes. The keratinocytes make up the bulk of the skin. The melanocytes are the cells that make the skin color. In people with vitiligo, the immune cells (cells which fight infection) attack the melanocytes and kill them. When the melanocytes in a certain area die the skin turns white. No one knows why the immune cells attack the melanocytes in people with vitiligo.

* Patients with vitiligo are sensitive to free radicals and need aggressive vitamin therapy, see below.

* Vitiligo sometimes runs in families, meaning that a genetic factor may be involved.

* Vitiligo sometimes occurs at the site of an old injury.

 

 

 

III. Course:

 

* Most people have slow progression of their disease. In some people the problem will disappear by itself.

 

 

 

IV. Treatment:

 

* Patients with vitiligo should take a B-complex multivitamin each day. Also take Folic Acid 1 mg, Vitamin E 600 - 800 IU, and ascorbic acid 1000 mg a day.

* Vitamin D ointment by prescription can help some people with vitiligo.

* Tacrolimus ointment .1% for 6 months will help many people with vitiligo. This medication also requires a prescription.

* Topical cortisone ointments by prescription can treat many cases of vitiligo.

* There is no easy treatment of vitiligo. Cover-up cosmetics such as Dermablend, Chromelin Complexion Blender and Covermark work well.

* PUVA light treatment has a high success rate. This treatment is very time-consuming. The patient must come to the office 2-4 times per week for 15-30 minutes to stand in a light box for 100-300 treatments. The treatment often takes a year or more and does not work for every patient that tries it; 50-70% of patients treated get a good response.

* Narrowband UVB is safer than PUVA and works just as well for the treatment of vitiligo.

* Severe case of vitiligo that do not respond to treatment can be treated with Benoquin by prescription. This medication causes permanent whitening of the dark areas of the skin and should only be used as a last resort.

 

 

 

V. More on Vitligo:

 

Vitiligo is a skin disease that causes permanent white spots or patches on the skin. Vitiligo is fairly common affecting 1 out of every 100 people. Vitiligo can be found in all parts of the world. It affects all ethnic groups, but is far more disabling in those who have dark skin. This disease affects males and females equally. The usual age of onset is between 10 and 30 years old, but the condition can start at any age.

 

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease. The human body is made of tiny building blocks called cells. One group of cells are called immune cells. These are the cells that normally fight off infection and germs. Another type of cell is the melanocyte. These are the cells that produce pigment molecules which give the skin its color. Vitiligo occurs when the immune cells start attacking and killing the melanocytes. As the melanocytes die, the skin turns white because it no longer has melanocytes making pigment or color. No one knows why the immune cells attack and kill the melanocytes in patients with vitiligo. In rare instances, vitiligo may affect eye, hair, and gum color. Although the exact cause is unknown, vitiligo is sometimes set off by severe stress. Vitiligo has been associated with certain diseases such as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, Addison's disease, pernicious anemia, alopecia areata, and halo nevi. It has also been noted that vitiligo has a tendency to run in families.

 

When a person first develops vitiligo, the disease usually starts as flat white spots on the hands or around the eyes. The white spots usually do not itch or hurt. These white spots or patches are commonly circular and occur in the same areas on both sides of the body, thus producing a mirror-image effect. The spots are more common over bony areas. Most people experience a slow progression of the disease with more and larger white patches, while in others, the patches disappear by themselves. There are two main types of vitiligo: the generalized form and the segmental form. In generalized vitiligo, the patchy white areas are often symmetrical, flat, have definite borders, and may affect or spread to any part of the body. In segmental vitiligo, the white patches usually stay on one side of the body, and they do not spread after the first six months or so. In some people the white patches spread over the entire body. This can make an African-American look like a Northern European-American.

 

Vitiligo is very difficult to treat. Treatment often depends on the severity of the condition and the patient's feelings of disfigurement. Cover-up cosmetics work well for some people. Other more sophisticated forms of treatment include gradually developing color back in these patchy areas (repigmentation) by PUVA ultraviolet light treatments or by surgically transplanting melanocytes into the white areas. These treatments are most successful in patients with vitiligo over less than 50% of their body surface area. With PUVA therapy, the patient takes a pill (psoralen) one hour prior to coming to the doctor's office. The patient then stands in a box and the skin is exposed to ultraviolet type A light. This must be done two to four times per week for fifteen to thirty minutes each treatment. Patients with vitiligo usually require 100-300 treatments over a year or more. There is a 50-70% success rate with this treatment. The newest treatment for vitiligo involves transplanting melanocytes from areas of normal skin color into the areas without skin color. This treatment is still experimental and is only done at university medical centers. Although there is very little that can be done to prevent the loss of skin color, patients with vitiligo should use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher on the white patchy areas to prevent sunburn and skin cancer. The melanocytes, which are missing in these white patchy areas, are the skin's natural protection against sun damage. So without these melanocytes, people with vitiligo are prone to sunburn in their white areas. People with vitiligo seem to be less likely to get skin cancer for reasons that are being studied.

 

Some patients, especially those with white patchy areas over more than 50% of the body, may choose to remove the skin color from the normal areas. This is called depigmentation. If a patient chooses to depigment (turn white all over), the doctor will give them a prescription for a cream called monobenzone. The patient applies the cream to the normal skin areas twice a day for two to three months. Depigmentation is permanent and irreversible. When the depigmentation process is completed, the patient's skin is all one uniform color (pale white).

 

Vitiligo can be a debilitating disease, especially in cultures with dark skin. People with dark skin and vitiligo are often ostracized by their community. Recent advances in treatment for this condition should offer these patients new hope.

Good informations josh about vitiligo

im glad u made this topic josh. i just cant understand y people still dont believe that michael suffers from this. its not uncommon. 1 in 100 people develop it, this includes white people as well (even though its obviously easier to notice on dark skinned people). heres some pics i found of mike when its easy to notice

 

 

 

 

 

^^notice the pic on the bottom left on mikes face, theres light and dark bloches on this skin.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^^ look on his neck and chin

 

 

^^ if u look on his chest carefully (men this doesnt make u gay. LOL), u can see the same thing

my sister has this and her doctor says that in a few years they will look at it again and see if soemthing changes!!!

thanks for the pics , agent bomb LOL

im glad u made this topic josh. i just cant understand y people still dont believe that michael suffers from this. its not uncommon. 1 in 100 people develop it, this includes white people as well (even though its obviously easier to notice on dark skinned people). heres some pics i found of mike when its easy to

I love the pics! I have been trying to get a scrapbook going of Michael.

 

 

 

^^notice the pic on the bottom left on mikes face, theres light and dark bloches on this skin.

 

 

 

 

^^ look on his neck and chin

 

 

^^ if u look on his chest carefully (men this doesnt make u gay. LOL), u can see the same thing

great topic. I'm trying to get my mum to believe he has vitiligo but she refuses to believe me! She recons he has blotches cause they made a mistake while bleaching his skin. She's never gonna listen

great topic. I'm trying to get my mum to believe he has vitiligo but she refuses to believe me! She recons he has blotches cause they made a mistake while bleaching his skin. She's never gonna listen

 

me too my bro thinks he bleached his skin and that vitaligo dont exist

just wait when someone they know end up with it

I think cause it a very rare disorder, that people will not believe he has it.

I know there are people that come to this forum who AREN'T MJ fans and may still believe what the tabloids say which is that Michael Bleaches his skin. So I want to create a topic explaining what michael's skin condition is so you can know the truth and respect Michael's health problems.

 

Michael suffers from "Vitiligo"

 

Misc. Vitiligo info found on google:

 

I. Definition:Vitiligo

 

Vitiligo is a common skin disorder in which white spots appear on the skin usually occurring on both sides of the body in the same location. The disease has been around for thousands of years. Vitiligo occurs in 1-2% of the population. It affects both sexes, all races and all ages.

II. Causes:

 

* The skin is made up of two main types of cells or building blocks: keratinocytes and melanocytes. The keratinocytes make up the bulk of the skin. The melanocytes are the cells that make the skin color. In people with vitiligo, the immune cells (cells which fight infection) attack the melanocytes and kill them. When the melanocytes in a certain area die the skin turns white. No one knows why the immune cells attack the melanocytes in people with vitiligo.

* Patients with vitiligo are sensitive to free radicals and need aggressive vitamin therapy, see below.

* Vitiligo sometimes runs in families, meaning that a genetic factor may be involved.

* Vitiligo sometimes occurs at the site of an old injury.

III. Course:

 

* Most people have slow progression of their disease. In some people the problem will disappear by itself.

IV. Treatment:

 

* Patients with vitiligo should take a B-complex multivitamin each day. Also take Folic Acid 1 mg, Vitamin E 600 - 800 IU, and ascorbic acid 1000 mg a day.

* Vitamin D ointment by prescription can help some people with vitiligo.

* Tacrolimus ointment .1% for 6 months will help many people with vitiligo. This medication also requires a prescription.

* Topical cortisone ointments by prescription can treat many cases of vitiligo.

* There is no easy treatment of vitiligo. Cover-up cosmetics such as Dermablend, Chromelin Complexion Blender and Covermark work well.

* PUVA light treatment has a high success rate. This treatment is very time-consuming. The patient must come to the office 2-4 times per week for 15-30 minutes to stand in a light box for 100-300 treatments. The treatment often takes a year or more and does not work for every patient that tries it; 50-70% of patients treated get a good response.

* Narrowband UVB is safer than PUVA and works just as well for the treatment of vitiligo.

* Severe case of vitiligo that do not respond to treatment can be treated with Benoquin by prescription. This medication causes permanent whitening of the dark areas of the skin and should only be used as a last resort.

V. More on Vitligo:

 

Vitiligo is a skin disease that causes permanent white spots or patches on the skin. Vitiligo is fairly common affecting 1 out of every 100 people. Vitiligo can be found in all parts of the world. It affects all ethnic groups, but is far more disabling in those who have dark skin. This disease affects males and females equally. The usual age of onset is between 10 and 30 years old, but the condition can start at any age.

 

Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease. The human body is made of tiny building blocks called cells. One group of cells are called immune cells. These are the cells that normally fight off infection and germs. Another type of cell is the melanocyte. These are the cells that produce pigment molecules which give the skin its color. Vitiligo occurs when the immune cells start attacking and killing the melanocytes. As the melanocytes die, the skin turns white because it no longer has melanocytes making pigment or color. No one knows why the immune cells attack and kill the melanocytes in patients with vitiligo. In rare instances, vitiligo may affect eye, hair, and gum color. Although the exact cause is unknown, vitiligo is sometimes set off by severe stress. Vitiligo has been associated with certain diseases such as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, Addison's disease, pernicious anemia, alopecia areata, and halo nevi. It has also been noted that vitiligo has a tendency to run in families.

 

When a person first develops vitiligo, the disease usually starts as flat white spots on the hands or around the eyes. The white spots usually do not itch or hurt. These white spots or patches are commonly circular and occur in the same areas on both sides of the body, thus producing a mirror-image effect. The spots are more common over bony areas. Most people experience a slow progression of the disease with more and larger white patches, while in others, the patches disappear by themselves. There are two main types of vitiligo: the generalized form and the segmental form. In generalized vitiligo, the patchy white areas are often symmetrical, flat, have definite borders, and may affect or spread to any part of the body. In segmental vitiligo, the white patches usually stay on one side of the body, and they do not spread after the first six months or so. In some people the white patches spread over the entire body. This can make an African-American look like a Northern European-American.

 

Vitiligo is very difficult to treat. Treatment often depends on the severity of the condition and the patient's feelings of disfigurement. Cover-up cosmetics work well for some people. Other more sophisticated forms of treatment include gradually developing color back in these patchy areas (repigmentation) by PUVA ultraviolet light treatments or by surgically transplanting melanocytes into the white areas. These treatments are most successful in patients with vitiligo over less than 50% of their body surface area. With PUVA therapy, the patient takes a pill (psoralen) one hour prior to coming to the doctor's office. The patient then stands in a box and the skin is exposed to ultraviolet type A light. This must be done two to four times per week for fifteen to thirty minutes each treatment. Patients with vitiligo usually require 100-300 treatments over a year or more. There is a 50-70% success rate with this treatment. The newest treatment for vitiligo involves transplanting melanocytes from areas of normal skin color into the areas without skin color. This treatment is still experimental and is only done at university medical centers. Although there is very little that can be done to prevent the loss of skin color, patients with vitiligo should use sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher on the white patchy areas to prevent sunburn and skin cancer. The melanocytes, which are missing in these white patchy areas, are the skin's natural protection against sun damage. So without these melanocytes, people with vitiligo are prone to sunburn in their white areas. People with vitiligo seem to be less likely to get skin cancer for reasons that are being studied.

 

Some patients, especially those with white patchy areas over more than 50% of the body, may choose to remove the skin color from the normal areas. This is called depigmentation. If a patient chooses to depigment (turn white all over), the doctor will give them a prescription for a cream called monobenzone. The patient applies the cream to the normal skin areas twice a day for two to three months. Depigmentation is permanent and irreversible. When the depigmentation process is completed, the patient's skin is all one uniform color (pale white).

 

Vitiligo can be a debilitating disease, especially in cultures with dark skin. People with dark skin and vitiligo are often ostracized by their community. Recent advances in treatment for this condition should offer these patients new hope.

 

 

 

A former classmate and one of the members of a church I use to attend both have Vitiligo. They were both dark skinned at one time and now their complexion is light like MJ`S. I always believed that he had it.

Yea well there's no doubt in my mind that MJ suffers fromthe disease, however there are skin bleaching treatments available, and i'm not ruling out the possibility that MJ used(s) these. I know he uses makeup, he said so himself. I also think that if i had the disease, i'd use skin bleaching treatments to try even my skin tone out, as this would be easier that trying to turn ur skin back to a brown colour, obviously. I feel sorry for the guy.

yes and we are always here to support him no matter what

yes and we are always here to support him no matter what

I always believed Michael. When he talks about it in the Oprah interview he almost starts to cry it seems. So I am sure it is real there is no doubt. I have seen several people on the street who have that. This surely exists. I am so sorry for Mike.

Thank you Josh and Agent Bomb I mean no matter how many times I explain it Ignorant people just want to explain away ignorance with their own stupidity!

 

My own people yes blacks attack him for this and even go as far as saying he changed his race.

 

 

It makes no sense how people refuse to see the facts and avoid the TRUTH!!!

Edited February 11, 200620 yr by Sensual Disguise

he will never be able to change his race because deep down his genes are still there and one of his kids can be black. Plus michael isnt that selfish to do it just to be white he had to have a real reason like this.

he will never be able to change his race because deep down his genes are still there and one of his kids can be black. Plus michael isnt that selfish to do it just to be white he had to have a real reason like this.

 

exactly michael has vitaligo its rare so ppl dont think it actually exists but we know it does so yea were here to support him 100%

I do and always will be there right next to michael supporting him and defending him when needed!! Excepially something like this because my sister has it and so does my great grandma.

I am sorry to hear about your sister and your grandma Flirtybug , and i hope they get cured .

well there is no cure yet so the docotr just gave them a cream to help slow it doewn

I'm sorry about your sis and Grandma Jess. There's a pic where Michael's arm is dark but his face is light. It might be vitiligo but I don't know.

http://www.**OLD MJHQ SITE **.com/community/index.php?ac...cmd=si&img=1194

I think it is the doc said that the disorder is different on everyone and that is why its so hard to find a cure right now

I am so sorry for that , i hope in the coming years they find a cure for that .

I think cause it a very rare disorder, that people will not believe he has it.

 

its not rare at all. 1 in 100 people (with ever skin colour) develops the condition

its sometimes triggered through the genes or through stress or emotional trauma