# So Michael Jackson's whole body was white - how? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 13, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573 "2011-10-13T20:34:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/1 "2011-10-13T20:34:54Z")
It’s now confirmed from the autopsy photos (available on TMZ and elsewhere) that Jackson’s whole body was white. Or maybe just his front…but I’m thinking his whole body. What I want to know is how. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/2 "2011-10-13T20:35:47Z")
IIRC he had [Vitiligo.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitiligo) ETA, the wiki page ‘confirms’ it as well. It says he’s had it since the 80’s…can it spread to the entire body in 25 years? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/3 "2011-10-13T20:52:49Z")
Bleach? ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/4 "2011-10-13T21:11:24Z")
As I recall, Michael did undergo skin whitening treatments. When knowledge of it became public, Michael claimed they were for treatment of the already mentioned vitiligo (he’d rather be all white than splotchy). Others have claimed that it was for purely cosmetic reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/5 "2011-10-14T00:32:57Z")
I’d like to know if there have been _any_ other documented or reported cases of people with vitiligo undergoing skin bleaching as a cosmetic solution. If not, I would find it hard to believe Michael Jackson’s bleaching wasn’t somehow more to do with his identity issues and psychological problems than with his vitiligo. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/6 "2011-10-14T00:52:35Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I’d like to know if there have been _any_ other documented or reported cases of people with vitiligo undergoing skin bleaching as a cosmetic solution. If not, I would find it hard to believe Michael Jackson’s bleaching wasn’t somehow more to do with his identity issues and psychological problems than with his vitiligo. > **[Redirect Notice](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CFkQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.avrf.org%2Ftreatments%2Ftreatments2.htm&ei=coaXToCrF6OLsAKi-YizBA&usg=AFQjCNFlSjW-ElXMutXM8rFYQgjcQ84t1A)** It says here that in cases of vitiligo where skin bleaching is used to treat the _entire_ complexion, _all_ treatments ultimately fail. 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/7 "2011-10-14T00:52:47Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > I’d like to know if there have been _any_ other documented or reported cases of people with vitiligo undergoing skin bleaching as a cosmetic solution. If not, I would find it hard to believe Michael Jackson’s bleaching wasn’t somehow more to do with his identity issues and psychological problems than with his vitiligo. [This website](http://www.avrf.org/treatments/treatments2.htm) seems to indicate that it’s not just mentally unstable pop superstars who treat their vitiligo with skin bleaching. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/8 "2011-10-14T00:58:46Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > [This website](http://www.avrf.org/treatments/treatments2.htm) seems to indicate that it’s not just mentally unstable pop superstars who treat their vitiligo with skin bleaching. > **[Redirect Notice](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CGgQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSkin_whitening&ei=MIiXToK3N-2JsAKL4p2uBA&usg=AFQjCNFKyAgTqRoCmr_U0itVo5C3JRItgA)** Actually, I had the wrong link posted. Here, it says that in cases where skin bleaching is used to treat vitiligo, and the bleaching is done for the entire complexion, _all_ treatments utimately fail. “Complete skin depigmentation is simply a futile process”-from the Wikipedia link ---
**Author:** ![Omega\_Glory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7c8e57/32.png) [@Omega\_Glory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omega_Glory)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/9 "2011-10-14T01:29:01Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > IIRC he had [Vitiligo.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vitiligo) > > ETA, the wiki page ‘confirms’ it as well. It says he’s had it since the 80’s…can it spread to the entire body in 25 years? According to [Reuters](http://in.reuters.com/article/2010/02/09/us-jackson-autopsy-idINTRE6184K720100209)the autopsy confirmed it, too. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/10 "2011-10-14T01:35:20Z")
> [@Omega\_Glory](#): > > According to [Reuters](http://in.reuters.com/article/2010/02/09/us-jackson-autopsy-idINTRE6184K720100209)the autopsy confirmed it, too. Yes, he clearly had vitiligo; the question is whether or not his skin bleaching was done as a treatment for that condition or something else…Something more twisted. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/11 "2011-10-14T01:37:33Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > It’s now confirmed from the autopsy photos (available on TMZ and elsewhere) that Jackson’s whole body was white. Or maybe just his front… Even his… ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/12 "2011-10-14T01:48:15Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > [Redirect Notice](http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CGgQFjAC&url=http%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSkin_whitening&ei=MIiXToK3N-2JsAKL4p2uBA&usg=AFQjCNFKyAgTqRoCmr_U0itVo5C3JRItgA) > > Actually, I had the wrong link posted. Here, it says that in cases where skin bleaching is used to treat vitiligo, and the bleaching is done for the entire complexion, _all_ treatments utimately fail. > > “Complete skin depigmentation is simply a futile process”-from the Wikipedia link I think you’re misreading that link. It’s defining two different situations: ones in which skin bleaching is used to treat vitiglio, and ones where skin bleaching is used to depigment the entire body. Obviously, there’s not going to be much (if any) overlap in these cases, because people with vitiglio don’t need to use the depigment process on their entire body: the vitiglio has already depigmented them, probably to a large degree if they’re considering totally depigmenting themselves to even out the tone. Regardless, your question wasn’t “Is this treatment effective,” your question was, “Is this treatment used to treat vitiglio.” I’m not sure what your Wiki link has to do with that. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/13 "2011-10-14T01:56:20Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Yes, he clearly had vitiligo; the question is whether or not his skin bleaching was done as a treatment for that condition or something else…Something more twisted. The article says there were white patches on arms, chest and abdomen. Where is the info he was completely white coming from? ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/14 "2011-10-14T02:01:00Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > Even his… Thank you so much for that lovely visual. ---
**Author:** ![miss\_elizabeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@miss\_elizabeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/miss_elizabeth)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/15 "2011-10-14T02:01:19Z")
Who cares? He was a broken man haunted by many problems, and died miserably. Don’t hover over his autopsy photos like a bunch of ghouls. Why would anyone even publish them? And I know he was probably a child molester, and that is super awful, but this has nothing to do with that. Whatever mental problems he had died with him, ---
**Author:** ![Stoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stoid/32/272_2.png) [@Stoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stoid)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/16 "2011-10-14T05:21:28Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > The article says there were white patches on arms, chest and abdomen. Where is the info he was completely white coming from? Wow, might be one of the shortest OPs around and you _still_ didn’t read it?? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/17 "2011-10-14T11:12:44Z")
> [@Stoid](#): > > Wow, might be one of the shortest OPs around and you _still_ didn’t read it?? Well, that’s obnoxious. I did read it, but the autopsy wasn’t linked to. The only link provided in the thread was to an article that contradicts the OP’s assertion. Even the OP was vague (whole body, maybe just his front). I was responding to the side conversation about body bleaching, and discussing whether his whole was indeed bleached/white or not. Wow, that’s an obnoxious thing to say. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/18 "2011-10-14T13:33:02Z")
remember when E.T. got really sick ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/19 "2011-10-14T15:42:41Z")
As a matter of practicality, would it not be a far easier cosmetic solution to darken the pale areas than whitening the darker pigments? ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573/20 "2011-10-14T16:08:31Z")
It’s easy to forget just how dark complected he was. See… he originally was a very normal black kid. Actually pretty good looking before he destroyed himself with plastic surgery and then mysteriously turned almost white. I’ve wondered if the bleaching came first and then later he got vitiligo. [http://images.watoday.com.au/2009/06/26/605319/jackson5-600x400.jpg](http://images.watoday.com.au/2009/06/26/605319/jackson5-600x400.jpg) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-michael-jacksons-whole-body-was-white-how/599573.md?page=2)