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Sammy Sosa is white as a ghost -- does he have Michael Jackson's skin disease?
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Sammy Sosa went pale over the past six months. (Getty Images)
Depending on who you read, Sammy Sosa's new ghost-white skin is a botched cosmetic procedure, a side effect of steroids, or the result of Michael Jackson's skin disease (vitiligo).
The former Chicago Cubs slugger -- who tested positive for steroids in 2003, according to the New York Times -- went from very dark to lily white in six months.
The above photo shows Sosa and his wife Sonya at a People magazine event on May 13, 2009 (bottom) and at the Latin Grammy Awards two days ago, November 5, 2009. The difference in his skin tone is nothing short of alarming.
Neither Sosa nor his representative has issued a statement about it, so bloggers are left to speculate.
Vitiligo is a chronic disorder that causes depigmentation of the skin, usually in patches. The cause is unknown, but according to the Mayo Clinic, it may be an autoimmune disorder. It also may be related to autoimmune thyroid disorders or acute sun overexposure resulting in burns. In any case, there is no cure.
It is common for people who have vitiligo to lighten their skin so the depigmentized white patches don't stand out so much. That's what Michael Jackson did.
None of the medical sites we visited made a direct connection between vitiligo and anabolic steroid use. Skin color changes that can occur as a side effect of steroids generally involve yellowing, which can be a sign of liver damage.
Hopefully Sammy Sosa isn't ill. And hopefully he'll tell the world what's going on and put an end to the rampant speculation.
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