Disease Turning Black TV Anchor White

[MissE]

Few people, outside medical professionals and those with the disease, had heard the term "vitiligo" until Michael Jackson revealed in the early 1990s that the disorder was behind his skin turning brown to white.

It's not fatal, but experts say vitiligo robs people of self-confidence, evokes ridicule and unpleasant stares, and pushes some into unforced seclusion.

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/disease...18140309990001

[missy_pooh_1997]

I'm suprised this is an issue. I've seen people like this for years. i've seen white and black peopel with lighter spots that they usually just cover with make up. I've only seen "hyper" vitaligo where the entire body turns white, in the last few years.

[MissE]

I'm not surprised it's an issue, but I have seen it; a family member actually has it. I never realized as a kid, I guess I just thought he was weird Uncle A with the spots.

Only in recent years I guess have I come to realize that it is an actual problem.

The reason I say I'm not surprised this is an issue is because, let's face it, people (not ALL, but many) are quick to shun anything/one that is "different".

[qualli]

Maybe I'm just an odd duck, but I think it's really beautiful.

I wish he didn't feel the need to cover it up on tv.

[Mr. Furious]

Originally Posted by MissE

The reason I say I'm not surprised this is an issue is because, let's face it, people (not ALL, but many) are quick to shun anything/one that is "different".

That's very true. One of the dads at my daughter's daycare has vitiligo, and it irritates me to no end that people would judge him by his appearance. He's a really nice guy, one of the friendliest parents that I've interacted with. It's not contagious, for eff's sake. Hell, even if it was, it's only theoretically possible for me to be whiter than I already am.

[Artemis]

So, wait...are we all believing Michael Jackson about the vitiligo now?

[Wild Redhead]

Originally Posted by Artemis

So, wait...are we all believing Michael Jackson about the vitiligo now?

Does it matter? If he doesn't have it I feel very sorry for him. For someone to be so unhappy with their ethnicity that they try to change the color of their skin is heartbreaking. If he does have it then he doesn't seem to be trying to hide it and I say good for him.

Originally Posted by MissE

The reason I say I'm not surprised this is an issue is because, let's face it, people (not ALL, but many) are quick to shun anything/one that is "different".

It is sad that this is true.

Originally Posted by qualli

Maybe I'm just an odd duck, but I think it's really beautiful.

I wish he didn't feel the need to cover it up on tv.

My sentiments exactly.

[ganzfeld]

Originally Posted by Artemis

So, wait...are we all believing Michael Jackson about the vitiligo now?

Has there ever been any reason at all to doubt it?

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by missy_pooh_1997

I'm suprised this is an issue. I've seen people like this for years. i've seen white and black peopel with lighter spots that they usually just cover with make up. I've only seen "hyper" vitaligo where the entire body turns white, in the last few years.

There's a famous case of a USAnian housewife who changed from black to white (or rather to 'dalmation-spotted' as she was described in newspapers) and then began to turn back to her original colour. There was a photo of her in a 1980s book called "World's Most Fantastic Freaks".

Around the same time there was a British man who turned brown due to a liver condition and who found out what it was like to be on the receiving end of racial discrimination.

And didn't a 1980s pop-singer (Yazz?) turn white?

[qualli]

Originally Posted by ganzfeld

Has there ever been any reason at all to doubt it?

From what I've heard, many people doubt that because the disease usually comes in spots. The theory goes that he wouldn't have turned so white so quickly and easily. And the evidence that he's not opposed to radically changing his appearance through modern medicine.

Of course he could have just used makeup, much like the anchorman, but choosing white instead of black.

Frankly I haven't really bothered to think about it too much before now.

[Radon Girl]

I'm wondering if that means people with this have problems going ot in the sun? If they really have absolutely no pigment in those white blotches they would sun burn incredibly easily.

[Menolly]

I vaguely recall a TV interview Michael Jackson did many, many years ago. He was married to Lisa Marie Presley at the time. Anyway, he mentioned that Lisa Marie could stay in the sun longer than he could. He also mentioned that he did something to try and even the color out on his face, some sort of bleaching product. Sorry, that's all I can recall...

[Casey]

Originally Posted by Radon Girl

I'm wondering if that means people with this have problems going ot in the sun? If they really have absolutely no pigment in those white blotches they would sun burn incredibly easily.

They should burn about as fast as an albino would, in other words, incredibly quickly.

I've heard of vitiligo in patches, but never an entire body. This bears watching.

[queen of the caramels]

Originally Posted by llewtrah

And didn't a 1980s pop-singer (Yazz?) turn white?

Didn't one of the Blue Peter presenters have it as well??

[Buckle Up]

My mother had it, and I agree that it was beautiful. I used to tell her that I hope I get it too, which bothered her to hear.

As for MJ, I think my take on it was that he may have it in a spot or two on his body, but that wasn't the "main reason" he looked bleached. But I concede that I do not know the truth about that.

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by queen of the caramels

Didn't one of the Blue Peter presenters have it as well??

Dunno, I have records of 2 or 3 cats with vitiligo and a black leopard that I suspect had it (3 black leopards actually, probably same breeding line). Which doesn't answer your question in the least, but is an interesting diversion for the animal lovers on here!

My knowledge of Blue Peter peters out (scuse pun) after Noakes, Purvis and Judd.

[Lainie]

How does vitiligo present itself in a cat?

[MissE]

Lainie, maybe in spots?

This wiki made me think so. (See the section that very briefly discusses animals... namely a Rottweiler.)

[Blatherskite]

Originally Posted by qualli

Of course he could have just used makeup, much like the anchorman, but choosing white instead of black.

I think he said in some interview that when the patches first appeared he would use make-up to match the rest of his skin colour, but as they spread it became easier just to go white.

[llewtrah]

Originally Posted by Lainie

How does vitiligo present itself in a cat?

In the first of the panthers (a female from a Scottish zoo, later sold to a Spanish zoo) it was like cobwebs laid over the animal. The cobweb effect got more pronounced as it aged. In the other 2 panthers it looks like snowflakes have settled on them The "Cobweb Panther" is fairly well known.

In the domestic cats it looks like snowflakes settling on the cats. As they grow older, the snowflakes settle in increasing amounts (more spots and bigger spots of white)