A doctor has shared four changes to your skin that could be a sign of liver problems. Gastroenterologist Dr Saurabh Sethi, has a significant TikTok following of 485.4k users (@doctorsethimd) and has become popular online for his health-related advice.
The Harvard-educated doctor’s video was titled “Four skin changes that could indicate liver disease.” The clip encouraged people to take note of the important signs to be wary of that could suggest liver complications.
In the video clip, Dr Sethi said: “Four skin changes that could indicate underlying liver disease. You can check these at home. I’m a liver specialist.”
He listed clear indicators such as “First, jaundice, yellowing of the skin and eyes due to elevated bilirubin levels. This is a classic sign of liver disease, as a liver is responsible for processing bilirubin.”
He also explained: “Second, spider angiomas; small dilated blood vessels that resemble spider webs, typically on the face, neck, or chest. These are caused by increased oestrogen levels, which can occur in liver disease,” reports the Mirror.
Furthermore, he stated, “Third, palmer erythema – redness and inflammation of the palms, often accompanied by swelling. This is due to increased blood flow and oestrogen levels, which can be a sign of liver dysfunction.”
And lastly, he noted, “And four – itching without a clear cause, often worse at night. This can be due to bile salts building up in the skin, which can occur in liver problem.”
There’s a wide variety of liver diseases. As per the NHS, some of these can be prevented by maintaining a healthy weight and adhering to the recommended alcohol limits, if you consume alcohol.
More information about the different types of liver disease is available on the NHS website. In their initial stages, most liver diseases do not exhibit symptoms.
By the time symptoms of liver disease appear, the liver has already sustained damage and scarring, a condition known as cirrhosis.
Symptoms of cirrhosis
- feeling very tired and weak all the time
- loss of appetite – which may lead to weight loss
- loss of sex drive (libido)
- yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- itchy skin
- feeling or being sick