Michael Jackson's transformation from a Black person to a significantly lighter-skinned individual was primarily due to his struggle with two skin conditions: lupus and vitiligo. Vitiligo, in particular, caused him to lose pigmentation, resulting in white patches on his skin. To conceal these patches and achieve a uniform skin tone, he used makeup and creams.
There have been various speculations and conspiracy theories regarding Michael's skin transformation, including allegations of using monobenzone or hydroquinone to lighten his skin intentionally. However, Michael consistently maintained that his changing appearance was a result of his medical conditions and efforts to manage them.
In addition to his skin changes, Michael underwent multiple plastic surgeries, including nose jobs and modifications to his lips and jawline. These surgeries were not solely for cosmetic reasons but were also related to injuries and accidents he experienced over the years.
Throughout his life, Michael faced intense media scrutiny and public speculation about his appearance. Despite his explanations, some people remained skeptical, believing that there might have been more to his skin transformation than he revealed.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Michael Jackson was diagnosed with lupus and vitiligo in the early 1980s.
2. Vitiligo is a disease that attacks the skin, causing the loss of skin pigmentation.
3. Michael Jackson had several surgeries throughout his life, including rhinoplasty to thin his nose.
4. He had his first surgery at the age of 21 to fix a broken nose, but also took the opportunity to slim down his nose.
5. Michael Jackson's skin began to lighten due to vitiligo, and he used makeup to cover up white spots.
6. He wore gloves to hide the disease on his hands, which became one of his trademarks.
7. Michael Jackson had several other surgeries, including a hair transplant and multiple nose jobs.
8. He underwent a treatment called hydroquinone, which destroys the ability to produce melanin and causes skin lightening.
9. Michael Jackson's skin was extremely pale and white by the end of his life.
10. He had a hole in his chin that wasn't there before, possibly due to one of his surgeries.
11. Michael Jackson lost his sense of smell due to his surgeries.
12. He had breathing problems and had to undergo nasal treatments.
13. According to his last manager, Frank de Leo, Michael Jackson performed many surgeries to look less like his father.
14. Michael Jackson was a perfectionist and tried to do his best in everything, including his appearance.
15. He was bullied and abused by his father as a child, which may have contributed to his desire to change his appearance.
16. Michael Jackson's father called him an "ugly big nose" and teased him as if he were the "ugly duckling" of the family.
17. Michael Jackson had a total of 12 surgeries to modify his appearance, according to his surgeon.
18. He had a very serious accident while recording a commercial for Pepsi, which caused serious burns to his face and scalp.
19. Michael Jackson died in 2009, and several packages and boxes containing ointments with monobenzone were found in his home.