Jaundice and yellow skin
The yellow coloring of the skin is the typical expression of jaundice, in turn a sign of a malfunction in the liver. The yellowish shade, in this case also extended to the ocular sclera (the white of the eye), is the typical consequence of an accumulation of bilirubin, a substance deriving from the catabolism of aged red blood cells; the
Among the most common causes of jaundice, and therefore of yellow skin, is Gilbert's hereditary disease, which affects about 5-10% of the Caucasian population. Generally, this disease runs asymptomatically and the yellow skin may appear more or less evident due to aggravating factors, such as severe stress, infections, prolonged fasting, intake of certain drugs (such as paracetamol) and intense physical exertion .
Yellow skin of icteric origin may be the consequence of other liver diseases, more serious than the previous one - such as cirrhosis, liver tumors, hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, biliary atresia, fatty liver - or extrahepatic, such as pancreatitis, pancreatic tumors, biliary obstruction, sickle cell anemia (sickle cell anemia), thalassemia, infectious mononucleosis and yellow fever (tropical disease transmitted through mosquito bites).
Among the symptoms of liver diseases related to jaundice, therefore associated with the presence of yellow skin, we mention: loss of appetite; fatigue, malaise and significant weight loss; dark coloration of the urine or clear of the stool; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, varicose veins, hypoglycemia, low-grade fever, muscle aches and loss of sexual desire; liver pain.
Hypercarotenosis and yellow skin
When the skin is yellowish to orange it could be hypercarotenosis ( carotenodermia, carotenemia ), a condition due to the accumulation of carotenoids. These yellow-orange pigments are generously preserved in numerous plant foods: carrots, broccoli, spinach, cantaloupe, mango, papaya, sweet potato, pumpkin, etc., so a high consumption of these foods or supplements of pro-vitamin A can be associated to yellow skin. Even an excess of saffron - through food and / or supplements - can cause yellow skin.
In case of carotenosis the yellow-orange color mainly affects the palm of the hands and the soles of the feet; the face may also be affected, but - unlike jaundice - eye scars are spared. A low body weight, even if not yet pathological, associated with the yellow-orange color of the palms and soles of the feet, can be one of the few physical symptoms associated with anorexia nervosa in the early stages. This symptom could in fact derive from the habit of eating almost exclusively vegetables, many of which are rich in carotenoids, which accumulate in the skin.
Hypothyroidism and yellow skin
The lack of thyroid hormones compromises the body's ability to convert beta-carotene to vitamin A; consequently the accumulation of circulating carotenes contributes to the yellowish coloring of the skin. According to the above, for the same beta-carotene taken through diet and supplements, hypothyroid subjects are at greater risk of developing carotemia. Typical symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, cold sensation, bradycardia, musculoskeletal pain and weight gain.
