Some visible changes can occur with liver disease, but none of them proves that the liver is damaged. Many have other, much more common causes.
Visible signs worth paying attention to
-
Yellow skin or yellowing of the whites of the eyes (jaundice): can occur when bilirubin builds up.
-
Swelling of the abdomen or legs: advanced liver disease can cause fluid accumulation.
-
Easy bruising or bleeding: impaired liver function can affect blood-clotting proteins.
-
Spider-like blood vessels on the skin: multiple small, visible vessels (spider angiomas) can occur with chronic liver disease.
-
Red palms (palmar erythema): can sometimes be associated with chronic liver disease.
-
Itchy skin: particularly when persistent and accompanied by other symptoms.
-
Dark urine and unusually pale stools: can occur when bile flow or bilirubin metabolism is disrupted.
-
Muscle loss or unexplained weight loss: may occur in advanced chronic liver disease.
Don’t wait for visible signs
Liver disease can be silent for years, particularly fatty liver disease. A person can have significant liver problems without looking or feeling ill.
If you develop new jaundice, abdominal swelling, vomiting blood, black/tarry stools, severe confusion, or extreme drowsiness, seek urgent medical attention.
If you’re concerned about your liver, a clinician can assess your history and medications and may order liver blood tests and imaging depending on the situation.
