Jaundice is a condition in which the skin, whites of the eyes and mucous membranes turn yellow because of a high level of bilirubin, a yellow-orange bile pigment. Jaundice has many causes, including hepatitis, gallstones and tumors. In adults, jaundice usually doesn’t need to be treated.

Excess bilirubin (hyperbilirubinemia) is the main cause of jaundice. Bilirubin, which is responsible for the yellow color of jaundice, is a normal part of the pigment released from the breakdown of “used” red blood cells.

Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin and sclera due to abnormally elevated levels of bilirubin in the blood. It can be characterized into three different categories including pre-hepatic, intra-hepatic, or post-hepatic.

Jaundice usually appears first on the face and then moves to the chest, belly, arms, and legs as bilirubin levels get higher. The whites of the eyes can also look yellow. Jaundice can be harder to see in babies with darker skin color. The baby’s doctor or nurse can test how much bilirubin is in the baby’s blood.

In adults, jaundice itself usually isn’t treated. But your doctor will treat the condition that’s causing it. If you have acute viral hepatitis, jaundice will go away on its own as the liver begins to heal.