new york ( cbs ) ― imagine developing a trait where you start to lose the pigment in your skin . it ' s called " vitiligo " and it impact millions of people in this place . if you forgot the hero of pop from his " drama " hours , you might notice that his skin tone was what you would expect for an african - born . today ? michael jackson is as tiny and silvery white as a candle . what happened is he got the body condition , vitiligo , in cbs news wcbs - am .
Jackson's skin has become lighter because of vitiligo.