What Causes Yellow Skin Color?

Yellow skin color can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'troubling' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.

Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose yellow skin color, we could:

Research the topic
Find a doctor with the time
Use a diagnostic computer system.

The process is the same, whichever method is used.

Step 1: List all Possible Causes

We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "yellow skin color" as a symptom. Here are eight of many possibilities (more below):

Infectious Mononucleosis
Kidney Disease
Sickle Cell Disease
Hemolytic Anemia
Cirrhosis Of The Liver
Low Progesterone
Pancreatitis
Hepatitis

Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist

We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:

infrequent daytime urination

frequent unexplained nausea

high cigarette smoke sensitivity

blood transfusions

recent loss/regaining of appetite

having hot flashes

suspected liver cirrhosis

dark areas under eyes

sickle cell trait

moderate unexplained fevers

long-term hypertension

red palms/fingertips

... and more than 80 others

Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause

A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of yellow skin color:

Cause	Probability	Status
Low Progesterone	92%	Confirm
Sickle Cell Disease	20%	Unlikely
Cirrhosis Of The Liver	14%	Unlikely
Hepatitis	4%	Ruled out
Infectious Mononucleosis	4%	Ruled out
Kidney Disease	3%	Ruled out
Hemolytic Anemia	1%	Ruled out
Pancreatitis	0%	Ruled out

* This is a simple example to illustrate the process

Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis

The Analyst™ is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.

In the Skin Symptoms section of the questionnaire, The Analyst™ will ask the following question about yellow skin tone:

Does your skin seem to have a more yellowish (jaundiced) tone than previously? It may help to look at untanned areas.

Possible responses:

→ Don't know
→ No
→ Probably / somewhat
→ Definitely

Based on your response to this question, which may indicate absence of yellow skin tone, possibly jaundiced skin or jaundiced skin, The Analyst™ will consider possibilities such as:

Hemolytic Anemia

Iodine Requirement

Hypothyroidism can manifest as dry or scaly or yellowish skin.

Liver Detoxification / Support Requirement

Cirrhosis of the Liver

Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes that occurs when the diseased liver does not process enough bilirubin.

Gallbladder Disease

Hepatitis

Pancreatic Cancer

Malaria

Malaria can cause jaundice through the loss of red blood cells.

Infectious Mononucleosis - Mono