Description and Possible Medical Problems
If your normally rosy complexion has recently taken on a yellowish tinge, and if the whites of your eyes also start to look somewhat yellow, you may have jaundice. Jaundice is caused by an accumulation of waste product from the bloodstream that collects in the liver. This waste product is called bilirubin. With jaundice, the body is unable to remove the excess bilirubin from the body, which then causes it to build up in the liver, turning your skin yellow and your urine dark. You might also have other symptoms such as weight loss and changes in your bowel habits, the color of your urine, and your appetite.
Jaundice is usually caused by a liver disease such as hepatitis or cirrhosis, but anything that blocks the flow of bile from the liver—such as a gallstone that becomes trapped in the bile duct—can also cause jaundice. Other causes may be an enlargement of the pancreas or a reaction to a medication.
When you first notice your skin turning yellow, you should immediately call your doctor, who will base his treatment on the underlying condition
I once had a patient who had developed a large hematoma—a mass of blood that collects under the skin—as a result of a car accident. When the hematoma began to break down, it released the bilirubin that had been stored up. The liver was not able to metabolize the bilirubin fast enough, so he developed jaundice. After a week or two, however, when the liver was able to process the extra bilirubin, his skin returned to its natural color.
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