Health and appearance of Michael Jackson

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Michael Jackson in 1984, two years before he was diagnosed with vitiligo. He had a third rhinoplasty several months prior

Michael Joseph Jackson (born August 29, 1958) is an American musician and entertainer who has spent nearly forty years in the public eye, from a child star in The Jackson 5 to a successful solo artist. During his career, his changing appearance, health concerns and diet have been well documented. Up until the early to mid 1980s, Jackson's natural changing appearance through puberty and age garnered little to no negative media attention. However, by the mid 1980s it was apparent that Jackson's appearance was being altered by something more than the aging process.

His skin was gradually lightening in tone, his nose and chin were altered and he was losing weight. These alterations would continue in a steady progression over the next 20 years. The lightened skin tone was due to the diseases vitiligo and lupus—which Jackson was diagnosed with in 1986—and the singer's personal choice was to cover the blotched skin with make-up; something many sufferers do. His altered facial features are the result of cosmetic surgery; by 1990, those close to the singer say he had undergone approximately ten procedures.

As an adolescent Jackson and his some of his other siblings state they were physically and emotionally abused by their father. Jackson rarely speaks about the abuse of his childhood, but, in several interviews where it was raised, he became very emotional and admitted that he would vomit before meeting his father. In court documents, some mental health experts have expressed the opinion that Jackson is psychologically a regressed 10-year-old. Some medical professionals have also publicly stated that he suffers from body dysmorphic disorder.

Jackson's appearance would also be altered by health problems, weight loss, stress and natural aging. Jackson decided to lose weight and became a vegetarian; he wanted "a dancer's body". He became dependent on drugs, and on one occasion he went into rehabilitation; drug use also affected his appearance. It was during periods of turmoil in Jackson's life that his weight and drug problems would resurface, often at the same time.

Vitiligo and lupus, treatments and effects

Jackson two years after he was diagnosed with vitiligo, pictured in the early stages of the disease

Jackson's skin was a medium-brown color for the entire duration of his youth, but starting in the early 1980s, his skin gradually grew more pale. This change gained widespread media coverage, including rumors that Jackson was bleaching his skin.[1] However, in the mid-1980s, Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo and lupus, the latter of which is potentially lethal but is in remission in Jackson's case. Both conditions make Jackson sensitive to overexposure to sunlight, which can cause his lupus condition to reawaken.[2] To treat both these conditions Jackson uses Solaquin, Retin A and Benoquin. He must also have hydroxychloroquin injected directly into his scalp regularly.[2] The treatments he uses for his condition further lighten his skin tone, and with the application of pancake makeup to even out his skin tone, he can appear very pale.[2]

An unusually candid ninety-minute interview with Oprah Winfrey occurred in February 1993, Jackson's first television interview since 1979. During the interview he dismissed suggestions that he bleached his skin, admitting for the first time that he had the illness. The interview was watched by ninety million Americans, becoming the fourth most-viewed non-sport program in US history. It also started a public discourse on the topic of vitiligo, a relatively unknown condition before then.[1][3][4][5] During the Australian leg of the HIStory World Tour, Jackson married his dermatologist's nurse, Deborah Jeanne Rowe.[6][7] The pair first met in the mid 1980s, when Jackson was diagnosed with vitiligo. She spent many years treating his illness as well as providing emotional support, and they built a strong friendship before becoming romantically involved.[8] The couple divorced in 1999 and remain friends.[9]

Cosmetic surgery and diet

The structure of his face has changed as well; several surgeons have speculated that Jackson had undergone multiple nasal surgeries, a forehead lift, thinned lips and a cheekbone surgery.[10] In 1979, Jackson had his first rhinoplasty after breaking his nose during a complex dance routine. However, the surgery was not a complete success, and Jackson complained of breathing difficulties that would affect his career. He was referred to Dr. Steven Hoefflin, who performed Jackson's second rhinoplasty as well as more throughout his career.[11] Jackson had his third rhinoplasty in 1984, another in 1986 and had a cleft put in his chin.[11]

Jackson wrote in his 1988 autobiography Moon Walk that he only had two rhinoplastic surgeries and the surgical creation of a cleft in his chin.[12] In the book, he attributed the change in the structure of his face to puberty, a strict vegetarian diet, weight loss, a change in hair style and stage lighting.[12] Jackson denied allegations that he had altered his eyes.[13] By 1990, the full extent of Jackson's surgery was unknown; those close to the singer estimated he had undergone 10 operations on his face up to this point.[2] In June 1992, the Daily Mirror ran a full, front page picture, allegedly of Jackson's face, which they described as "hideously disfigured" by plastic surgery. Jackson sued the tabloid and in 1998 they agreed to an out of court settlement with Jackson. At the High Court, the paper's former editor acknowledged that after meeting the singer in person, he believed that Jackson was neither hideously disfigured nor scarred. A Daily Mirror solicitor maintained that the publication did not tamper with the picture.[14]

Health concerns

Childhood and mental health

From a young age Jackson and other family members state that they were physically and mentally abused by his father Joseph through incessant rehearsals, whippings and derogatory names such as "big nose". Jackson's abuse as a child has affected him throughout his grown life.[15] In one altercation—later recalled by Marlon Jackson—Joseph held Michael Jackson upside down by one leg and "pummelled him over and over again with his hand, hitting him on his back and buttocks".[16] Joseph would often trip up, or push the male children into walls.[16] One night while Jackson was asleep, Joseph climbed into his room through the bedroom window. Wearing a fright mask, he entered the room screaming and shouting. Joseph said he wanted to teach his children not to leave the window open when they went to sleep. For a number of years afterward, Jackson suffered nightmares about being kidnapped from his bedroom.[16] By the early 1980's, he was deeply unhappy; Jackson explained, "Even at home, I'm lonely. I sit in my room sometimes and cry. It's so hard to make friends...I sometimes walk around the neighborhood at night, just hoping to find someone to talk to. But I just end up coming home."[17]

Although it had been reported for a number of years that Jackson had an abusive childhood, he first spoke openly about it in his 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey. He grimaced when speaking of the childhood abuse at the hands of his father; he believed he had missed out on much of his childhood years, admitting that he often cried from loneliness.[1][3][4] In the same interview, speaking of his father, Jackson said, "There were times when he'd come to see me, I'd get sick...I'd start to regurgitate. I'm sorry...Please don't be mad at me...But I do love him."[18] In Jackson's other high profile interview Living with Michael Jackson (2003), the singer covered his face with his hand and began crying when talking about his childhood abuse.[16] Jackson recalled that Joseph sat in a chair as the group rehearsed, saying, "He had this belt in his hand. If you didn't do it the right way, he would tear you up, really get you. It was bad. Real bad."[19]

In 2003, the singer was accused of child sexual abuse which resulted in the People v. Jackson trial two years later. During the investigation, Jackson's profile was examined by mental health professional, Dr. Stan Katz. The doctor spent several hours with the accuser as well. According to J. Randy Taraborrelli, the assessment made by Katz, was that Jackson had become a regressed 10-year-old.[20] Some medical professionals have publicly stated their belief that the singer also has body dysmorphic disorder, a psychological condition whereby the sufferer has no concept of how they are perceived by others.[2]

Weight and drug addiction

Changes to his face were, in part, due to periods of significant weight loss.[21] Jackson became slimmer in the early 1980s because of a change in diet and a desire for "a dancer's body".[11] By 1984, Jackson had lost 20 pounds (9.1 kg), bringing his weight to 105 pounds (48 kg), the slimmest he had ever been as an adult.[22] Witnesses reported that Jackson was often dizzy and speculated that he was suffering from anorexia nervosa.[22] Following accusations of child molestation in 1993, Jackson stopped eating, losing even more weight.[23] In late 1995, Jackson was rushed to a hospital after collapsing during rehearsals for a televised performance (which was subsequently cancelled); the incident was caused by a stress related panic attack.[24] The BBC reported that during his 2005 trial, the singer again suffered from stress-related illnesses and severe weight loss.[25]

In 1993, the entertainer admitted taking painkillers, Valium, Xanax and Ativan to deal with the stress of the child sexual abuse allegations made against him.[26] A few months after the allegations became news, Jackson had lost approximately 10 pounds (4.5 kilograms) in weight and had stopped eating.[23] In a court deposition unrelated to alleged child abuse, Jackson was visibly drowsy, lacked concentration and repeatedly slurred while speaking. He could not remember the dates of his prior album releases or names of people he had worked with. It took him several minutes to name some of his recent albums.[27]

Jackson's health had deteriorated to the extent that he canceled the remainder of his tour and flew with friends Elizabeth Taylor and her husband to London. When the singer arrived at the airport, he had to be held up by his two friends; he was then rushed to the home of Elton John's manager and then to a clinic.[28][29] He was searched for drugs on entry; vials of medicine were found in a suitcase. He took over the fourth floor of the hospital and was put on Valium IV to wean him from painkillers.[28][29] The singer's spokesperson then told reporters that Jackson was "barely able to function adequately on an intellectual level".[28][29] While in the clinic, Jackson took part in group and one-on-one therapy sessions.[29] According to Taraborrelli, in January 2004, following his upcoming trial, Jackson became dependent on morphine and Demerol, which he subsequently overcame.[30]

References

Notes

  1. ^ a b c Campbell (1995), p. 14–16
  2. ^ a b c d e Taraborrelli, p. 434–436
  3. ^ a b Lewis p. 165–168
  4. ^ a b George, p. 45–46
  5. ^ 'I'm a black man turning white on television'", BrisbaneTimes, December 18, 2007
  6. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 580–581
  7. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 597
  8. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 570
  9. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 599–600
  10. ^ "Surgeon: Michael Jackson A 'Nasal Cripple'". ABC News. February 8, 2003. Retrieved 2006-11-11.
  11. ^ a b c Taraborrelli, p. 205–210
  12. ^ a b Jackson, p. 229–230
  13. ^ Jackson, p. 256
  14. ^ "Mirror says sorry for Jackson libel". BBC. 1998-11-09. Retrieved 2008-07-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  15. ^ "Michael Jackson's Secret Childhood". VH1. Retrieved 2008-06-20.
  16. ^ a b c d Taraborrelli, p. 20–22
  17. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 206
  18. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 620
  19. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 602
  20. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 648
  21. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 138–144
  22. ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 312–313
  23. ^ a b Taraborrelli, p. 514–516
  24. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 576–577
  25. ^ Davis, Matthew (2005-06-06). "Michael Jackson health concerns". BBC. Retrieved 2008-04-14. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  26. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 518–520
  27. ^ Campbell (1995), p. 96–97
  28. ^ a b c Campbell (1995), p. 89–93
  29. ^ a b c d Taraborrelli, p. 524–528
  30. ^ Taraborrelli, p. 661

Bibliography


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