"Wicked," the movie adaptation of the stage musical of the same title, is breaking box office records, including the biggest opening weekend for a Broadway adaptation. While fans and critics are raving about the Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo-led film, it raises the question--can Elphaba's green skin exist in real life?
Well, it can.
Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West, is best known for her bright green skin caused by a mysterious elixir her mother consumed on the night she was conceived (no spoilers here).
In the real world, no elixir is needed. Instead, chlorosis in humans can change the skin to a greenish hue. Also known as "green sickness," chlorosis was common in the 19th century among women in puberty age who were less active. It was a type of hypochromic anemia believed to be caused by iron deficiency, a study published on PubMed explained. Although the real cause
Hypochromia means the red blood cells are paler than normal.
Chlorosis in humans was also characterized by a sedentary lifestyle, premature menstruation, and emotional disturbances, among others, the New York Post noted.
Because of the unique symptom, having slightly greenish-yellow skin, the disease was depicted in paintings and mentioned in literature until the 20th century, Britannica noted.
Today, there isn't a known case of the condition. In fact, in 1936, Professor Willis Marion Fowler of the University of Iowa published an obituary of the illness after it disappeared from records.
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