Michael Jackson had a skin disorder called Vitiligo. It is a chronic disorder that causes pigment loss in patches of the skin. In terms of its biology, it occurs when the melanin pigment-producing cells called melanocytes die are not able to function properly.

There is evidence to suggest that it is triggered as an event by a combination of immune, environmental and cellular development factors.

It is genetically inherited. The worldwide incidence of Vitiligo is between 1 to 2 per cent.

Naturally enough, concerned as human beings are with our cosmetic appearance, the onset of Vitiligo can be devastating. Skin patches on the exposed parts of the body is a cosmetic affliction and under the clothes lurks an embarrassment of even greater private proportion. It is a terrible thing to happen to anybody. Moreso when your life hinges on being comestically beautiful.

After years of fighting and covering it up Jackson chose a solution called Depigmintation. It is a procedure that rids the skin of all the remaining colour to match the areas depigmented by Vitiligo. The result is what individuals with albinism, a condition of total pigment loss, experience: pain as a consequence of losing our protection against the sun.

Jackson was vilified for wanting to become ‘white’ whereas what he really sought was a performing artist’s remedy for a horrible genetically inherited skin disorder.

I recently had an experience in Parliament where a fellow MP with albinism found it necessary to explain that the reason he was reading with difficulty was not because he was incapable but that the exercise caused him considerable pain, which it does. My heart went out to him.

Someone with albinism has no eye pigment and therefore no protection against light.

Albinism is dealt with very badly in African societies, where it announces itself in very obvious ways. Albinism is a worldwide affliction involving populations of European descent, but it only becomes apparent when others parts of the body are tanned by sunlight.

For those of European descent who lack the ability to tan as many Scottish, Irish, Morroccans and Iranians (the pattern reveals an interesting common ancestry!) for example do, exposure to the sun burns and leads quite easily to cancer.

Ignorance is a terrible thing. We do terrible things to one another because of it. Knowledge leads to much greater understanding and empathy for individuals with diseases they cannot help getting.