Jaundice

Orange skin discoloration from very high beta-carotene intake (e.g., carrot juice) is benign, reversible, and carries no underlying liver pathology. Yellow skin is the hallmark sign of jaundice and directly indicates a liver problem. Jaundice occurs because the liver fails to clear bilirubin — a byproduct of red blood cell breakdown — allowing it to accumulate in blood and deposit in the skin. When the liver fails to process bilirubin, it accumulates in the bloodstream and deposits in tissues, producing the characteristic yellow discoloration of jaundice. When bilirubin is not conjugated and excreted properly, it accumulates in the bloodstream and deposits in tissues, producing yellow discoloration. Jaundice in pancreatic cancer occurs when a tumor in the head of the pancreas obstructs the bile duct, preventing normal bile flow. Bile duct obstruction causes bilirubin to be excreted by the kidneys, resulting in dark, rusty-colored urine. Jaundice is yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by bilirubin accumulation in liver failure. Bile duct obstruction from a pancreatic tumor can cause sludge to back up into the gallbladder and possibly the pancreas itself. Bilirubin i…