What is the Cause of Yellow Skin Color?

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.

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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):

Malaria
Liver Congestion
Gallbladder Disease
Iodine Need
Infectious Mononucleosis
Pancreatic Cancer
Cirrhosis Of The Liver
Jaundice

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:

severe flatulence

garlic intolerance

slightly jaundiced eyes

positive results from coffee enemas

current exposure to solvents

meal-induced pain for under a week

history of CFS diagnosis

having non-problematic gallstones

low iodine consumption

recent onset fatigue

very great unexplained weight loss

elevated liver enzymes

... and more than 110 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
Jaundice	90%	Confirm
Malaria	24%	Unlikely
Iodine Need	20%	Unlikely
Infectious Mononucleosis	2%	Ruled out
Liver Congestion	2%	Ruled out
Gallbladder Disease	2%	Ruled out
Cirrhosis Of The Liver	1%	Ruled out
Pancreatic Cancer	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-Related 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.

Jaundice

Jaundice also suggests the following possibilities:

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

The gallbladder releases bile into the small intestines through a tube called the cystic duct, which connects to the bile duct. When gallstones are obstructing these ducts, bile builds up in the gallbladder and increases the concentration of a yellowish substance called bilirubin in the blood, causing a yellowing of the skin known as jaundice.

Hepatitis

Jaundice is a yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by increased amounts of bilirubin in the bloodstream. High levels of bilirubin my be excreted by the kidneys in response to inflammation of the liver cells caused by hepatitis.

Infectious Mononucleosis - Mono

Liver Detoxification / Support Requirement

Malaria

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

Pancreatic Cancer

Kidney Disease

Pancreatitis

Jaundice may be due to blockage of the bile duct from the inflamed pancreas.

Progesterone Low or Estrogen Dominance

Sickle Cell Trait / Disease

Vitamin B12 Requirement

Pale skin, often with a lemon tint, can be a sign of B12 deficiency.