The point of this link is for me to immortalize the fact that Michael Jackson has a skin disease to those who don't get it. Michael first noticed signs of the disease shortly after releasing his 'Thriller' album. It's called VITILIGO and the American Vitiligo Foundation defines it as a: "spontaneous irregular depigmentation of skin which can occur at any stage in life. Scientifically, its cause is very poorly understood. It is not contagious and is technically not a serious health problem. But people with vitiligo and their families and friends know that it can cause much suffering because of social effects of the change in appearance."
Here are some tidbits about the disease.

FACTS:

> Vitiligo has been discovered for about 5000 years

> 1 in every 100 people have a case of vitiligo

> effects both males and females equally

> can begin at any age but 50% of vitiligo patients develop it before age 20

> Vitiligo is most often genetic but can skip many generations

> Since people with vitiligo have no melanocytes (which produce skin color), skin can burn easily and can cause excruciating pain if proper precautions aren't taken.

> white patches caused by vitiligo often spread

> there are treatments that can help slow the process of vitiligo or help bring color back, but it doesn't work for everyone

> Vilitlgo can cause extreme depression

> many choose to help conceal their vitiligo with make-up

> There is no single cure.

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The following is part of an article published in 'Le Journal De Montreal':

"Many years ago, Michael's doctor gave a press conference where he declared that Michael suffered from vitiligo. But as no one knew what he was talking about, we didn't hear anything about it. But I knew what he was talking about. As I myself suffer since birth from this illness that we call vitiligo. His illness doesn't induce pain or death and isn't contagious. But it can have a dramatic side to it that no one will be able to ignore.

To make things simple, vitiligo causes an absence of pigmentation in the skin. That's why I'm whiter than white...that's why I burn when I'm in the sun for less than five minutes.

...For a long time I was traumatized. The illness progresses. At first, you don't notice it. Then white patches appear on the skin that you try to hide. Then some years later, you are white from head to toe. I covered my whole body for a long time. In my situation white became white. [Michael] has white patches on black skin... Thoughts of suicide probably...He uses make-up and everyone laughs [as] he becomes whiter and whiter.

They make fun, laugh and insult him. I don't... But now that you know, I would be grateful if you laughed a little less when you think of Michael Jackson."
--Pierre Bourgeault

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