Jaundice is caused by too much bilirubin building up in the body, which makes the skin and eyes turn yellow. In adults, that usually points to a problem with the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, or sometimes blood cells breaking down too fast.

Common causes

  • Liver disease : hepatitis, cirrhosis, alcohol-related liver damage, or fatty liver disease can reduce the liver’s ability to process bilirubin.
  • Blocked bile ducts : gallstones, pancreatitis, or cancers of the bile duct or pancreas can stop bilirubin from draining properly.
  • Too much red blood cell breakdown : blood disorders or hemolysis can raise bilirubin levels faster than the liver can clear them.
  • Medicines or toxins : some drugs, including acetaminophen overdose, and certain toxins can injure the liver and trigger jaundice.
  • Inherited conditions : Gilbert syndrome and a few rarer genetic disorders can cause mild or intermittent jaundice.

When to take it seriously

Jaundice is often a sign of an underlying medical problem, and in adults it can be serious enough to need urgent evaluation. If it comes with abdominal pain, fever, dark urine, pale stools, vomiting, confusion, or rapid worsening, medical assessment is important.

Simple way to think about it

Your body is constantly breaking down old red blood cells, and bilirubin is one of the waste products. Jaundice happens when production is too high, the liver is damaged, or bile cannot flow out normally.

TL;DR

Jaundice is usually caused by bilirubin buildup , most often from liver disease, bile duct blockage, blood breakdown problems, or medication/toxin injury.