ORLANDO -- Sammy Sosa says he is not trying to look like the late Michael Jackson, nor is he suffering from a skin infection. He also says the change in the color of his skin is not a byproduct of his alleged steroid use.

Speaking publicly for the first time since photos of him from a recent musical award ceremony were published on the Internet, Sosa said that the skin lightening is the result of the use of a facial cosmetic cream.

Sammy Sosa and friend at XS
(Photo courtesy XS)