What Does Jaundice Look Like?

Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by high levels of a pigment called bilirubin in the bloodstream. Bilirubin is a byproduct of broken-down old red blood cells.

Description

• Once old red blood cells are broken down in the spleen, the bilirubin moves through the bloodstream to the liver, where it is processed before being moved to the intestines for disposal. If too much bilirubin builds up in the bloodstream, it is deposited in the skin, causing the yellow discoloration.

Types

• Jaundice that occurs in otherwise healthy people is called physiologic jaundice. When it presents a health risk, either by its degree or cause, it is called pathologic jaundice.

Causes

• The most common causes of jaundice are liver problems, such as inflammation or scarring. Blocked bile ducts, which assist in carrying the bilirubin out of the body, can also be responsible for jaundice.

Symptoms

• Aside from the most obvious symptom of yellowing skin, signs of jaundice include darker urine, light-colored stools and itching. Other symptoms may appear, such as nausea and fever, depending on the specific cause of the jaundice.

Diagnosis

• After a physical exam, your doctor may perform other diagnostic tests in order to determine the cause of your yellowing skin, such as blood tests, an abdominal ultrasound and liver biopsy.

Treatments

• Proper treatment depends upon the cause of the jaundice and can range from no action at all, in the case of a temporary liver problem, to surgery, such as for a blocked bile duct.