Health

Sammy Sosa's Skin is Lighter, Admits Bleaching: Before and After

by Amy Judd | November 7, 2009 at 11:01 am

14603 views | 10 Recommendations | 10 comments

In an update, Sammy Sosa has admitted that he uses a skin bleaching night cream and said that the television lights also made his skin appear lighter. He said he is not suffering from a medical condition.

"It's a bleaching cream that I apply before going to bed and whitens my skin some," he said on Primer Impacto, a program on the Spanish-language network Univision.

Sosa, who also wears colored contacts, said he uses the cream as a moisturizer and is in discussions to market it.

Previously reported on November 7th:

In a story that echos a discussion surrounding Michael Jackson years ago, there is some discussion today of Sammy Sosa and his skin, and that it looks much lighter than it used to.

Sammy Sosa and his wife Sonia were in Las Vegas for the Latin Grammys and people that were there are saying that Sosa's skin is looking undeniably lighter than it was.

It could be vitiligo, which Michael Jackson claimed he suffered from, and that is a complicated skin condition that causes depigmentation. The natural cells die and are unable to funtion and that is how they lose their colour. It can be caused by genetics or even environmental factors.

Sammy Sosa has not released any statement regarding the matter, but it seems to be a discussion point today.

A picture of Sammy Sosa in December 2008

A picture of Sammy Sosa in May 2009

A picture of Sammy Sosa in November 2009

Sammy, who hasn't played since 2007, has been accused of using modern chemistry to help him attain 609 career homers — including three seasons of 60-plus. Perhaps he's turning to science to give him a different veneer as he approaches his 41st birthday.

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Mary Richard

at 12:42 on November 7th, 2009

I'm not saying this is the case of Sammy Sosa, but this disturbing story was in the news back in September.

Apparently skin whitening products are the rage in Asia right now, and marketed by very well known brands such as Nivea and Garnier.

Sad but true ...

Amy Judd

at 12:47 on November 7th, 2009

Thank you for that link, I had no idea.

Mritunjay

at 13:32 on November 7th, 2009

Yes, these type of ads have been in the media since years now. Some of the classical ones from Fair & Lovely- Men to the current one. Men are new targets while women have been the historical target of such ads by firms both Indian and International. Infact if you analyze the message in any beauty product in the subcontinent, all of them harp the color "brightening" proposition of the product. Not only lotions and creams but also products like bathing soap harp the same tune. All of them demean darker skin shade (common in the tropical sub-continent) while trying to show that fairer skin is the ultimate goal!

What's even more shameful is that not only the ad but the product and the proposition sells like hot pancakes!! Nivea, Unilever, P&G, Garnier or local ones like Himalaya, Vicco everyone has just one plank to sell products.

Thanks for the update.

hoping2 (not verified)

at 17:54 on November 8th, 2009

Vitiligo is very prevalent among darker skinned people. Honestly, do you know how many lifetimes it would take to bleach or whiten your entire body?

TiffanyRedHead (not verified)

at 19:53 on November 7th, 2009

what the hell do you mean by "vitiligo, which Michael Jackson claimed he suffered from"?, it's already been proven that he did have the disease, even his official autopsy report says so

Thriller (not verified)

at 08:38 on November 9th, 2009

Why r u guys comparing Sammy Sosa to MJ? MJ had the disease vitiligo, until Sammy says so himself no one is to predict why or what caused what he did. There goes the freaking paparizzi again, blowing things out of porportion. And no he isnt trying to be like MJ! Leave MJ alone, and stop bringing him back into this subject.

Yuliya Talmazan

at 08:45 on November 9th, 2009

He does look very different in those pictures. Interesting.

Joseph Dow (not verified)

at 07:49 on November 10th, 2009

I heard he was just rejuvenating his skin. I wouldn't have a problem if it was skin bleaching or lightening his skin who cares if that's how some people want to look or if theres a market in Asia I don't understand what you are talking about what is sad about that? How is that any different from the extreme tanning market with bronzer, oils to cook you, rub on tanners, accelerators whatever you want to call it.

myaLu (not verified)

at 11:02 on November 10th, 2009

wow... he does not look like the same person. He looks like he put light contacts in his eyes also. If he's happy with his appearance, then that is all that matters.