Dr. Klein Dermatologist Speaks to Larry King about Michael Jackson Vitiligo & Lupus
75Dr Klein, Michael Jackson’s Dermatologist, aesthetic face reconstructionist, and friend spoke to Larry King in candid a interview about meeting Michael Jackson and diagnosing him with Lupus and Vitiligo. Klein additionally rendered his opinion of Michael’s plastic surgery, drug use, and the paternity of his children; however, this article focuses on Michael Jackson’s Vitiligo and Lupus.
Dr. Arnold Klein has been dubbed “Dermatologist to the Stars.” He is a board certified medical doctor, specializing in dermatology and cosmetic surgery. He’s accredited with revolutionizing Botox with injectable fillers. Dr. Klein asserted that a close friend referred Michael Jackson to him. The friend could have possibly been Elizabeth Taylor, whom Klein’s website lists as a close friend. Jackson had been seeking treatment for his severe acne problem, but the moment Klein saw Michael Jackson, he noted a butterfly rash on the face and crusting of the scalp. Klein immediately decided that Michael had Lupus. A biopsy confirmed Klein’s suspicions.
Vitiligo is a side effect of Lupus, caused by the immune system attacking one’s pigment cells. It’s more pronounced in black people than white people because it’s harder to tell that a white person is losing pigment. Michael’s whole body began to speckle, specifically his face and hands, which Dr. Klein told Larry King was difficult to treat. When Larry King asked if Michael wanted to be white, Dr. Klein replied, “No, Michael was black. He was proud of his black heritage. He changed the world for black people.”
Dr. Klein said that Vitiligo can be treated with certain drugs or laser treatments to even out in the pigmentation loss. In Michael’s case, they chose to use creams to lighten the darker portions, and destroy the remaining pigment cells. They chose to make Michael lighter because Michael’s skin had more white patches than darker ones. If they had chosen to try to match his original skin, he would have looked even more unreal.
In some Vitiligo cases, the skin will try to restore its own pigment. It just cannot do it at the rate that it’s being destroyed. This means that white blotches could become freckled with darker patches, as you can see in these photos. Dr. Klein stated that once they had gotten the Vitiligo to a manageable state, the treatment became about maintaining the reoccurrences of Michael’s original pigmentation.
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Thanks for the comment ochic32. I agree. he'll always have a special place in my heart and life even though I never met him.
i believe in everything what Michael says. i love him very much!!!!!!!!!!!!1
apparently Prince Michael inherited vitiligo from MJ as there is significant mottling and spotting on his hands and neck in many recent photos.
Great hub! Michael had a lot to deal with through his life, but he kept on going.... giving us his very best.
The biggest entertainer EVER!..no doubt.
I always believe in you. Rest in peace, Michael.
Thank you so much for this great article, as it is very well written and has really good photos! I am going to share this on my MJ fan sites so that my MJ sisters and brothers have a decidedly great Article to reference when the HATERS and NON-BELIEVERS attack them regarding MJ's Skin condition! My nephew suffers with this disease and it DID start out on his hands! It looks exactly as Michael's did in the picture you provided. Thanks again, ALL 4 L.O.V.E
Very sad.. the most popular person with vitiligo now gone forever.. he become an idol to the vitiligo patient.. no matters how bad you look.. you still can get what you want and victory..
I'm the huge fan of king of pop... to sad he gone young..
I would like to see a presevation day .com website that strictly invites all of us as Michael's fans to show their true love for the entertainer as an never ending tribute to Michael's charities as well as Michael's famous style of song, dance,wardrobe ,and his love eternally for God, his children,his parents,siblings,friends,familyand the people who were close to him.These would b e perfomers dancers, singers,musicians,actors & actresses.He had a rare and true talent that we will all sadly miss!But,if we all could continue to show our love and appreciation for his never ending work of talents,I believe we all have at least something of Michael that he shared so graciously with us in the form of his gifted talents :that we will forever mimick after Michaelthis is just something I would like to see come into existance,as atribute to Michael.Incase we forget, Michael was a poet,artist and somewhat of a designer also .Michael I'll never forget you may you rest well from labours.
I had vitiligo in 1986. I treated it with diet and the patchy white areas actually recolored themselves. Pantothenic acid (B5), PABA and liver daily. I actually included this in chapter 15 "Cures and Cures I've Seen" of my book "Every BODY Can Heal" even though the book was about my daughter's recovery from cancer.
Voted useful. Thanks.
This is a great hub and I have featured it on one of mine. Thank you!
ohic32 Level 2 Commenter 2 years ago
Now this calls for one to stop and think. I know of both medical conditions and know of pople who suffer from them. They are both unsightly and really affects the skin.
There is a girl who worked wit us part time for a while who has lupus. The butterfly effect on her face really made it seem as if she had a terrible acne problem.
Now this makes me look at Michael's skin change a bit less critically but what of the ever changing nose job?
I love him inspite of it all and the more I learn the more I find that there is more about Michael to learn.