Yellow Skin Around the Eyes: Is It Jaundice?

Lighting, cosmetics, skin products, bruising as it heals, or naturally uneven skin tone can make the eyelid area appear yellow. Jaundice is different: bilirubin builds up in body tissues and may make the whites of the eyes, skin, or lining of the mouth yellow. On brown or black skin, the eye whites can be a more useful place to notice a change.

A mirror check in natural daylight can help, but it cannot confirm the cause. True yellowing may be accompanied by dark urine, pale stools, itching, nausea, or abdominal discomfort, although these do not occur in every case.

If the eye whites are yellow or the change is new and unexplained, contact a clinician urgently. Take note of when you first noticed it, any recent illness or travel, medicine or supplement changes, alcohol intake, and changes in urine or stool colour. Do not use skin-lightening products or stop prescribed medicine on your own to try to correct the colour.

Seek emergency help for severe upper abdominal pain, fever with chills, confusion, repeated vomiting, fainting, bleeding, or marked drowsiness. These warning signs can occur with serious illness and matter more than how noticeable the yellow colour is. Infants with yellowing need prompt paediatric assessment.

Ask whether the eye whites and skin suggest jaundice, which blood tests can assess bilirubin and liver function, and whether urine testing or imaging is needed. Ask whether any medicines, supplements, or recent exposures could be relevant, and what changes should prompt emergency care.