The doctor shared the concerning signs to look for since they could indicate liver problems.
A gastroenterologist has revealed a number of changes to your skin that could indicate underlying liver disease. Dr Saurabh Sethi, who boasts a following of 485.4k on TikTok (@doctorsethimd), has gone viral in recent months for sharing different advice, including which vitamins to take daily, foods to avoid for gut health and more.
The Harvard-educated doctor’s viral video was titled: “Four skin changes that could indicate liver disease.” The short clip the doctor shared the concerning signs to look for since they could indicate liver problems.
In his informative video, Dr Sethi elaborated: “Four skin changes that could indicate underlying liver disease. You can check these at home. I’m a liver specialist.
“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.
“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.”
He added: “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 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 are many different types of liver disease. According to the NHS, you can help prevent some of them by maintaining a healthy weight and staying within the recommended alcohol limits, if you drink.
The NHS website provides more information about the different types of liver disease. In the early stages, most types of liver disease do not cause symptoms.
Once you start to get symptoms of liver disease, your liver is already damaged and scarred. This is known as cirrhosis.
Symptoms of cirrhosis include:
- 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