No history of pop singer Michael Jackson is complete without a look at the myriad of health issues suffered by the "King of Pop" over his life.

While much of the attention to Jackson's health issues started in 1993, when he admitted he had vitiligo, a dermatological disorder that causes depigmentation in patches of skin, his medical history began earlier than that.

In January 1984, Jackson was injured when his hair caught on fire after an accidental explosion while filming a commercial. He was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was treated for second-degree burns on his scalp.

Vitiligo And Plastic Surgery

Although Jackson's skin was a medium-brown color when he was younger, starting in the early 1980s it had begun to grow gradually paler. This led to widespread media coverage and rumors that the singer was bleaching his skin.

However, Jackson dismissed those suggestions in a February 1993 interview with Oprah Winfrey, admitting for the first time he suffered from vitiligo. He said lupus, which he was diagnosed with in 1986, was also partially to blame for his skin tone.

During that interview, he also spoke openly for the first time about accusations his father, Joseph Jackson, physically and mentally abused him from an early age.

In his 1988 autobiography "Moon Walk," Jackson wrote that he had two rhinoplastic surgeries and the surgical creation of a cleft in his chin. While he attributed the other changes in his face to puberty, a strict vegetarian diet and weight loss, those close to the singer said by 1990 he had undergone about 10 plastic surgery procedures.

Health Derails Appearances

Randy Taraborrelli's biography "Michael Jackson: The Magic and the Madness" claimed the singer became addicted to painkillers after allegations of child molestation in 1993. His health deteriorated to the extent that he canceled the remainder of the Dangerous World Tour and went into drug rehabilitation for a few months.

Jackson was also advised to take some time off after collapsing during rehearsal for a HBO concert special on Dec. 6, 1995. The concert special was canceled.

Drug Rehab, Court Maladies

Jackson's medical ailments also found him falling ill during two separate court cases.

The first was in November 2002 during a civil trial in which he lost a breach-of-contract lawsuit against him. During that trial he complained of a series of medical problems, showing up late on one occasion. After a two-week recess in the trial he showed up to court on crutches, complaining of a spider bite on his left foot.

The judge in that case ordered Jackson to receive an independent medical examination, and the results confirmed that Jackson had a legitimate ailment that prevented him from appearing in court, but specifics were not disclosed.

Ten years later he was again rushed to a hospital emergency room in February 2005 during his trial on child-molestation charges. He was admitted to Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, Calif., for treatment of flu-like symptoms.

Recent Concerns

In December 2008, author Ian Halperin, who wrote a book about Jackson's life, claimed that the pop icon suffered from Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a potentially fatal genetic illness, as well as emphysema and gastrointestinal bleeding. Halperin said Jackson needed an emergency transplant operation to save his life, a claim disputed by Jackson's representatives.

Even his latest foray into the limelight reportedly suffered a setback related to his health issues. Jackson was to end his singing career with 50 performances at London's O2 arena starting in July. However, the three earliest shows were rescheduled for March 2010, stoking speculation of more health problems.

Concert promoters denied those reports, saying the issue was a production snag. The postponement came days after a London newspaper reported that Jackson has skin cancer -- which his camp steadfastly denied.