THE WASHINGTON REVIEW & COMMENTARY: Weekly News From The White House

Michael Jackson’s dermatologist Dr. Arnie Klein has been all over the media discussing his famous client’s medical history. The reason behind this media blitz is really nothing more than a way for the good doctor to cash in his fifteen minutes of fame.

On CNN’s “Larry King,” Dr. Klein disclosed that Michael Jackson did indeed suffer from vitiligo. To treat the skin disorder, Dr. Klein said that he prescribed a topical cream that over time bleached Michael’s natural brown hue. Klein acknowledged that the topical cream made Michael’s skin pigmentation light; caucasian in tone, but noted emphatically that “Michael was Black. He was very proud of his heritage.”

Also in that interview, Dr. Klein made known that Michael Jackson suffered from lupus, a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body such as skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. As the physician treating Jackson for lupus, or perhaps one of them, Dr. Klein would have probably prescribed a corticosteroid named prednisone. Prednisone is commonly used by patients suffering from lupus.

Prednisone can be administered in several forms: a pill, skin creams, gels, and liquid. The liquid form of prednisone is intravenously injected into the vein in pulses. Having the prednisone  fed through the body intravenously provides longer periods of relief for the patient suffering from lupus. Perhaps this could be why several unsubstantiated reports have made the claims that Michael Jackson had injection sites or needle marks  on his arms and body. Other reports say that Michael’s vein had virtually collapsed.

There are four different types of lupus: cutaneous lupus erythematosus (skin), systemic lupus erythematosus, drug-induced lupus and neonatal lupus. Dr. Klein did not say which type Michael Jackson acquired.

In other Dr. Klein news, when cornered as to whether or not he is the biological father of Michael Jackson, Klein slyly confessed that he donated sperm, but had no idea where that donation went or if it was used. Dr. Klein told other media outlets that he “didn’t think” that he was the natural father of Prince Michael or Paris Katherine Jackson.