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Skinematic Spotlight: Evil skin in The Lord of the Rings 
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Many are the dermatologic conditions that have been appropriated to illustrate evil. The computer generated image (CGI) of the Cave Troll shows a common one: lack of hair. Alopecia, other than deviating from the norm, may also have been employed by Hollywood types because it is easy to create. One bald cap or sharp razor and voila! Instant meanness. This is especially true for CGI where the technology to effectively digitalize the complex appearance of flowing hair is still being perfected.
Are the Uruk-hai Rastafarian? Another evil race are the Uruk-hai. Created by the evil wizard Saruman, they are Orc DNA placed in an evil stir fry with extra hot sauce. In addition to their swarthy skin, the Uruk-hai show a receding hairline, but this cannot be attributed to their hairstyle. While tightly braided corn rows can results in frontal hair loss, the Uruk-hai prefer the Dredlocks hairstyle. We are not aware that Dreds apply the same degree of traction on hair follicles causing them to become inactive over time. Is Lurtz a leper? 
One of series' more frightening figures is the monstrous countenance of Uruk-hai leader Lurtz. Lurtz does not have vitiligo, his white spots are the hand print of Saruman the white. Even in ancient times, corporate logos were ubiquitous. His prominent hairless brows, thickened skin, and a wide nose are features that dermatologists would call Lion-like or Leonine. Leonine facial features are most commonly seen in severe forms of leprosy. Caused by a mycobacterial infection, the thickened features result from the immune system's attempt to surround the organism with inflammation. These pockets of inflammation, called granulomas, occur near nerves so the areas often lose sensation. Leonine features can also rarely occur in conditions with scary names like sarcoidosis and histiocytosis. Or even certain blood cell cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. Someone like Lurtz is in dire need of a full medical evaluation and a panel of blood tests. This may be difficult, to say the least. He doesn't look in the mood for a prostate exam.
Finally: Why the Ring wraith hoods? And what do they look like underneath? 
We'd be remiss not to comment on the shrouded figures of doom, the Ring wraiths. These sinister henchmen of Sauron are the original vigilante mob, out to retrieve the One True Ring. Why the hoods? Bad acne scars? Avoiding the paparazzi at Cannes? We recognize the shrouds for their actual purpose: sun protection. Those hoods appear to be a tight weave to give the highest SPF available in Mordor.
Beneath their hoods, their true appearance is revealed: Gaunt, pale, their skin robbed of all the elasticity of youth. The ghostly remains of corrupted monarchs, they look suspiciously like leftovers from a John Carpenter B-movie. Severely lacking in collagen, one wonders if a series of soft tissue implants would improve their disposition. Perhaps they could undergo magic plastic surgery when the One True Ring is destroyed? Whatever adventures await, the series runs rings around the cinematic, and skinematic competition.
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