Kim Kardashian has never shied away from discussing her struggles with psoriasis, but her latest revelation has left fans in disbelief. The reality star and business mogul recently disclosed that one of her sons has inherited a rare skin condition—mild vitiligo—the same disorder that affected the legendary Michael Jackson.
“[Psoriasis] came from my mom, went to me,” Kardashian shared during an episode of the SHE MD podcast, “and then I passed it on in a different form to my son, who has mild vitiligo.” While she didn’t specify which of her sons has the condition, she reassured listeners that they have it under control.
“I didn’t know anything about it,” she admitted, “but having to learn about it and figuring out where it came from, that it’s hereditary, just learning more and being able to share that [has been a blessing].” Dr. Daniel Wallace, one of the podcast’s hosts, highlighted a key fact: “20% of people with an autoimmune disease have an offspring with an autoimmune disease.”
In addition to vitiligo, Kardashian revealed that her children also deal with eczema, another chronic skin condition that causes dry, itchy, and inflamed skin.
Kardashian’s personal battle with psoriasis began at age 30 when her mother, Kris Jenner, first noticed the patches on her legs. “We were at my mom’s house, and I was wearing a short skirt,” Kardashian recalled. “She looked at my legs and goes, ‘Oh my god, you have psoriasis.'” Though cortisone shots provided temporary relief, the condition became chronic and has been a part of her life ever since.
Vitiligo, a condition that causes the loss of skin pigmentation, has been widely associated with Michael Jackson. The King of Pop famously denied rumors of skin bleaching in a 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey. “I have a skin disorder [vitiligo] that destroys the pigmentation of the skin; it’s something that I cannot help, okay?” Jackson stated. His autopsy report later confirmed his struggle with the condition, which caused white patches across his body.
Jackson’s father, Joe Jackson, previously revealed that vitiligo ran in the family. “We saw it coming on him at an early age. You know, just a little spot. My aunt had the same thing,” he once shared. According to Dr. Arnold Klein, Jackson’s dermatologist, the condition affected the star significantly. “Oh, his was bad because he began to get a totally speckled look over his body,” Klein explained in an interview. “On his face significantly, on his hands, which were very difficult to treat.”
To manage his appearance, Jackson relied on makeup and eventually underwent skin treatments. He was also diagnosed with lupus, another autoimmune disease that further impacted his skin. These conditions contributed to his evolving appearance, which became a subject of public scrutiny throughout his career.
Kardashian, known for sharing her personal health battles, has frequently documented her psoriasis journey on social media, raising awareness about autoimmune disorders. Now, with her son facing a similar struggle, she continues to shed light on hereditary skin conditions, proving once again that even the most glamorous celebrities face real-life challenges.
