Jackson's fair complexion no more remains a mystery

The search warrant documents, released Friday, have put an end to the long-simmering debate over how the African-American pop superstar lightened his complexion within a short span of time.

Jackson’s disease vitiligo
Michael always insisted his complexion paled because he suffered from vitiligo, a skin disease which turns the skin lighter in patches.

It was widely believed that the singer used skin whitening products but Michael’s representatives straightly denied the claims, insisting instead that he was suffering from the disease vitiligo.

Skin-whitening creams found
Now, the newly sealed warrants in the Michael Jackson case reveal that large quantities of general anesthetic and dozens of tubes of skin-whitening creams were among items found in the singer's Californian home after his death, according to a report by Mirror.

Vitiligo disease creates patches of de-pigmented skin, and the creams, commonly prescribed to those suffering from the singer's condition, can be used to lighten the normal skin surrounding the affected areas, to give the skin a more even appearance.

According to the report, cops had found 37 tubes of skinwhiteners hydroquinone and Benoquin while conducting a search after his death in June last year, reports the tabloid.

The search revealed that Michael possessed 19 tubes of Hydroquinone and 18 tubes of Benoquin, both of which are known for their skin whitening properties, at the time of his death.

Singer might have used the creams to treat his disease
Vitiligo disease creates patches of de-pigmented skin, and the creams, commonly prescribed to those suffering from the singer's condition, can be used to lighten the normal skin surrounding the affected areas, to give the skin a more even appearance.

But, the discovery of skin-whitening creams in MJ’s rented house soon after his death further heats the debate over his altered complexion.

While some tabloid reports are claiming that the presence of large quantity of the skin-whitening creams in the house suggests Michael was lying about his condition and artificially bleached his skin, some others arguing that the creams don't necessarily prove that the pop icon voluntarily altered his skin color insisting instead that he could have been used the creams to even out his flesh tone - as vitiligo can create patches.

"Some people with vitiligo get to the point where there is so much of them that is pale, it makes more sense to remove the bits that are brown," Dr. David Sawcer, assistant professor of clinical dermatology at the University of South California, reportedly told MSNBC, explaining the purpose of using such chemicals.

What killed Jackson?
At the home, detectives also found 11 containers of the powerful anesthetic propofol, some of them empty, as well as a range of sedatives and various medical items including a box of blood pressure cuffs, according to the Associated Press, citing search warrants in the case against Dr Conrad Murray, Jacksons physician, who has pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter.

The anesthetic propofol is thought to have caused the singer’s death last June.

Citing police statements, a report from AP claims that Dr Murray tried to remove the materials before the cops arrived. The pop superstar’s personal assistant Michael Amir Williams told the detectives that Murray wanted “to pick up some cream that Mr. Jackson has so that the world wouldn’t find out about it.”