Common Causes
Pale stool: Causes and treatments
- Causes of pale stool. Consuming fatty foods may make a person’s stools pale in color. ...
- Pale stool in children. Breastfed babies will generally have light-colored stools. ...
- Pale stool during pregnancy. ...
- When to see a doctor. ...
- Summary. ...
Related Conditions
What Foods Cause Pale Stools. Certain foods can change the color of your stool. For example, beets can change the color of your poop to dark red and eating alots of veggies can give your stool a green hue. But are there foods that lighten stool color? Yes. Foods high in fat can lighten the color of your stool. Food coloring in foods can also ...
What causes pale stools and how is it treated?
- Beets. Notice red poop after eating beets? ...
- Green Veggies. If you like to load up on greens like spinach, broccoli and lettuce, your poop may reflect that. ...
- Blueberries. Blueberries can cause your poop to have a blue or black tinge. ...
- Food Coloring. In 2017, Oreo and Peeps teamed up to make Peeps Oreos, a novelty snack with a bright pink filling. ...
- Medications. ...
What foods cause pale stool?
- Red – Bright red or dark red in the stool can indicate bleeding somewhere in the gastrointestinal tract. ...
- Black – Similar to red in the stool, a persistent black color in stool can indicate internal bleeding from esophageal varices. ...
- Grey, Pale, Yellow or Clay-Colored – The liver releases bile into the stool, giving it a normal brown color. ...
What foods change stool color?
What color should stool be?
Why do I have pale stools?
Why do kids have bright colored stools?
Why is my stool white?
What is the best medicine for fatty stool?
See more
About this website
What causes light colored poop?
If your liver is not producing enough bile, or if the flow of the bile is blocked and not draining from your liver, your stools may become pale or clay-colored. Having pale stools once in a while may not be a cause for concern. If it occurs frequently, you may have a serious illness.
Why is my poop kinda pale?
Stool gets its normal brownish color from bile, which is excreted into the small intestine during the digestive process. If the liver doesn't produce bile or if bile is obstructed from leaving the liver, stool will be light colored or white.
What does pale stools look like?
The stool can be gray or clay-colored if it contains little or no bile. The pale color may signify a condition (biliary obstruction) where the flow of bile to the intestine is obstructed, such as obstruction of the bile duct from a tumor or gallstone in the duct or nearby pancreas.
Is peanut butter colored poop normal?
Stools should be brown, have a peanut-butter texture, and look like a sausage. If you have abnormal colors, it may be due to something you ingested. But it may also be due to serious illness. If it's abnormal once, it's likely nothing to worry about.
Why is my poop beige?
Stools that are pale, clay, or putty-colored may be due to problems in the biliary system. The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. Food passes from the stomach into the small intestine. In the small intestine all nutrient absorption occurs.
What color is stool with pancreatitis?
Disorders that affect the pancreas Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, a blockage in the pancreatic duct, or cystic fibrosis can also turn your stool yellow. These conditions prevent your pancreas from providing enough of the enzymes your intestines need to digest food.
What causes a lack of bile?
Bile salts are stored in your gallbladder when they're not being used. If your gallbladder is removed, it can lead to a bile salt deficiency. This condition can also be caused by other diseases of the bowel. If you experience any of the symptoms of a bile salt deficiency, it's important that you see your doctor.
Can anxiety cause pale stools?
Anxiety does not specifically affect the color of stool, but it can affect how food moves through the digestive tract.
Stool color: When to worry - Mayo Clinic
Stool quality What it may mean Possible dietary causes; Green: Food may be moving through the large intestine too quickly, such as due to diarrhea. As a result, bile doesn't have time to break down completely.
Bowel cancer - Symptoms - NHS
Read about symptoms of bowel cancer, including blood in the poo (stools), a change in bowel habit – such as more frequent, looser poos – and tummy (abdominal) pain.
Why does my stool look pale?
Diseases of the pancreas can make it hard for this organ to secrete pancreatic juices into the digestive system. This can lead to the food moving too quickly through the gut, causing a pale and fatty-looking stool.
Why does stool change color?
Causes. In children. During pregnancy. When to see a doctor. Summary. Many things can change the color of stool, including vitamins, infections, and certain foods. Some underlying medical problems, such as gallbladder and liver disease, can also change stool color.
Why is my stool white?
When the stool is white or very light brown, this can signal a more serious problem, such as cholestasis, a type of liver disease. In newborns, cholestasis or any other problem with the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas may be a medical emergency, so a caregiver should call their pediatrician right away.
Why is my stool pale after taking pain pills?
A person who notices a pale stool after taking a new medication or after taking OTC pain relievers for a long time or in excess of the correct dose may have medication-related liver damage. It is best to stop taking the drug, if it is not a prescription medication, and see a doctor as soon as possible. 4.
How to tell if you have liver disease?
In addition to pale stool, other symptoms of liver disease include: 1 nausea and vomiting 2 fatigue 3 very dark urine 4 fatty stool 5 itching 6 swelling in the ankles or legs
What does it mean when your poop is white?
Pale stool, especially if it is white or clay colored, can indicate a serious health problem. When adults have a pale stool with no other symptoms, it is usually safe to wait and see if the stool returns to normal. When children and babies have very pale or white poop, a doctor should see them as soon as possible.
How do you know if you have giardiasis?
A person can contract this parasite by drinking contaminated water or being in close contact with someone who has the infection. Giardiasis is more common in regions with inconsistent access to clean water. The most common symptoms of giardiasis include stomach pain, headache, swollen stomach, vomiting, and fever.
Why does stool color change?
Only rarely does stool color indicate a potentially serious intestinal condition. Stool color is generally influenced by what you eat as well as by the amount of bile — a yellow-green fluid that digests fats — in your stool. As bile pigments travel through your gastrointestinal tract, they are chemically altered by enzymes, ...
Why is my stool red?
If your stool is bright red or black — which may indicate the presence of blood — seek prompt medical attention. Food may be moving through the large intestine too quickly, such as due to diarrhea. As a result, bile doesn't have time to break down completely.
What does it mean when you have no bile in your stool?
A lack of bile in stool. This may indicate a bile duct obstruction. Certain medications, such as large doses of bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) and other anti-diarrheal drugs. Excess fat in the stool, such as due to a malabsorption disorder, for example, celiac disease.
Does bile break down?
As a result, bile doesn't have time to break down completely. Green leafy vegetables, green food coloring, such as in flavored drink mixes or ice pops, iron supplements. A lack of bile in stool. This may indicate a bile duct obstruction.
What causes a pale stool?
Medical causes of stool that is pale or clay-colored are usually liver and biliary issues such as: 1 Alcoholic hepatitis: This disease of the liver occurs after overexposure to alcohol. 2 Biliary cirrhosis: This is a type of liver disease where the bile ducts are damaged. 3 Birth defect: Some people are born with a problem in the biliary system. 4 Cysts: A cyst may block a bile duct. 5 Gallstones: These calcium deposits in the gallbladder could block bile ducts. 6 Hepatitis A, B, or C: Infectious liver diseases that may cause a lack of bile. 7 Infection: Certain types of infections could affect the biliary system. 8 Sclerosing cholangitis: This is a disease that can cause a lack of bile production or a blockage in the bile ducts. 9 Side effects of medication: Overuse of certain medications could cause drug-induced hepatitis. These drugs include non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, hormonal birth control, and certain antibiotics. 10 Strictures: A narrowing of the intestine could block the flow of bile. 11 Tumor: A tumor could block the flow of bile.
What tests are used to determine if a person has pale stools?
In addition to a complete medical history, some of the tests that might be used to make a diagnosis are: Liver function tests: Liver function tests can help determine if there is a condition that involves the liver that's causing the pale stools. 2 .
Why is my stool brown?
Bile is what gives stool its brown color, so if bile is not being produced or if the bile ducts are blocked, and bile isn't entering the small intestine, the result could be stool that is light. Medical causes of stool that is pale or clay-colored are usually liver and biliary issues such as: Alcoholic hepatitis: This disease ...
Why do my bowels look like clay?
Stools that are pale, white, or look like clay or putty may be the result of a lack of bile or caused by a blockage in the bile ducts. Stools that are light in color or look like clay can also occur after a test in the colon that uses barium (such as a barium enema ), because the barium may be passed in the stool.
What causes a lack of bile?
Hepatitis A, B, or C: Infectious liver diseases that may cause a lack of bile. Infection: Certain types of infections could affect the biliary system. Sclerosing cholangitis: This is a disease that can cause a lack of bile production or a blockage in the bile ducts. Side effects of medication: Overuse of certain medications could cause drug-induced ...
What does it mean when your urine is clay?
Concerning Symptoms. Clay-colored stool that is caused by certain medical conditions may be accompanied by a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes ( jaundice) or darkened urine. If signs of jaundice occur, a physician should be consulted immediately.
Can barium swallow cause pale stools?
A Word From Verywell. People who haven't recently had a barium enema or a barium swallow should see a doctor about having pale stools. This is particularly true if any other symptoms are occurring along with it, especially jaundice or pain.
Considerations
The liver releases bile salts into the stool, giving it a normal brown color. You may have clay-colored stools if you have a liver infection that reduces bile production, or if the flow of bile out of the liver is blocked.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call your health care provider if your stools are not the normal brown color for several days.
What to Expect at Your Office Visit
The provider will perform a physical exam. They will ask questions about your medical history and symptoms. Questions may include:
Why is my stool pale?
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) Inflammation of the pancreas can affect your biliary system and be one of the causes of pale stool. According to a report published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal, pancreatitis can cause malabsorption. This can result in occasionally passing white or pale stool and having other symptoms ...
What does it mean when you have a clay colored stool?
If you have started passing clay-colored stool and have bouts of clay-colored diarrhea, it could mean that you have a parasite infection of your intestines. Parasites like tapeworms, roundworms, threadworms, or pinworms can cause a number of unpleasant symptoms.
Why is my poop turning brown?
Issues with your gallbladder, bile ducts, pancreas, or liver can cause your poop to turn a clay or pale color. Stool can turn from its usual brown color to a whitish-gray or light gray if there is not enough bile in your digestive system.
What does it mean when your poop is white?
White or pale colored stool means that something is affecting the flow of digestive bile. Doctors from the Mayo Clinic explain what it means when your poop is white. Bile produced by the liver and stored in the gallbladder is necessary to break down fat from foods.
Why is my urine white?
The journal Diagnostic Pathology reported that an EBV infection can cause symptoms similar to gallbladder inflammation. This can cause you to pass white or light-colored stool along with darkened urine. The reason for clay-colored poop is that EBV can affect the liver. 9. Other symptoms of “mono” can include:
Why is my baby's stool white?
Sometimes, white stool can appear in infants and toddlers. The journal Acta Paediatrica reported that cholestatic liver disease can cause pale stool in infants and require the proper treatment. 15
Why is my poop white?
Your poop could be white because of an issue with your gallbladder and its function. Let’s look at some gallbladder disorders that could be to blame for pooping pale stool. For many of the gallbladder-related causes of white bowel movements, please see my articles on how to treat a gallbladder attack.
What does it mean when your poop is different colors?
What do different stool colors mean? Checking the color of your stool is a very good way to monitor your overall health. Most of the time, stool will be light to dark brown in color. But stool that’s a different color, texture, or consistency, are all signs there’s something different going on in your body.
Why is my stool light colored?
Sometimes, the color can be from large doses of medications. The main causes of light-colored stool include: Gallstones, or hardened deposits of bile that form in the gallbladder and block your common bile duct. Pancreatic cancer. Liver disease.
Why is my bile green?
Bile travels through the GI tract and changes to brown when it interacts with certain enzymes. If your stool is green, it usually means that you have changed your diet slightly or your food is traveling through the large intestines faster than normal so it doesn’t have enough time to break down and change color.
Why is my stool white?
If your stool is pale in color or white, it usually means that bile isn’t moving through your GI tract. This would mean that there’s an obstruction of the bile duct that isn’t letting the bile flow into the intestine. Sometimes, the color can be from large doses of medications.
What to do if your stool color changes?
If your stool color has changed because of a change in diet and there are no other symptoms, no treatment is needed. If you are bleeding, you may need to go to the hospital, have laboratory and imaging tests, and possibly even a procedure, such as an endoscopy or colonoscopy.
Why is my stool dark?
The main causes of dark stool are: Upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding, which can be from an infection, medication, trauma (like a car accident), or lesions of the blood vessels. Stomach/peptic ulcers that cause bleeding in the esophagus.
Why is my poop yellow?
If your stool is yellow, or more likely, contains yellow droplets (seen floating on the toilet bowl), it is a sign of fat in the stool. It can also have a bad odor and a greasy texture. You may see noticeable amounts of fat in your stool when it’s not absorbed properly by the body. Yellow stool can be a sign you’re having malabsorption issues—along with other signs like difficulty maintaining or gaining weight.
What color is poop?
Poop comes in all colors (and all smells and textures) including many shades of brown, green, or yellow. In general, these colors are normal and variations in these colors do not indicate that anything is wrong.
What does it mean when your baby has a yellow stool?
If you see that your infant has a white, pale yellow or chalky grey stool, you must contact your child’s pediatrician immediately, as this may be a sign of a blockage in the liver. The most common example of this type of blockage is called biliary atresia and timely diagnosis of this condition is important to correcting this problem.
Why is my baby's diaper bloody?
Although rare, there are many causes of larger volumes of blood in the diaper. Sometimes, bloody poops are caused by an infection.
Why is my baby's poop yellow?
This is because the nutrients in breast milk are very well-absorbed by the baby. Babies on formula and those who have started eating solid foods will produce poop that is usually darker yellow, brown or green in color. Any shade of brown, green or yellow is possible and normal, from light beige to dark green.
Is it normal for a baby to have black poop?
All babies have black poop for the first few days after birth. It is called meconium, and this is completely normal.
Why do I have pale stools?
If your liver is not producing enough bile, or if the flow of the bile is blocked and not draining from your liver, your stools may become pale or clay-colored. Having pale stools once in a while may not be a cause for concern. If it occurs frequently, you may have a serious illness. You should see your doctor whenever you have pale ...
Why do kids have bright colored stools?
Brightly colored stools in children are usually caused by colorful foods like breakfast cereal. However, pale, white, or clay-colored stools in children can be caused by something more serious. Some of the causes are:
Why is my stool white?
Some of the causes are: a milk-only diet. barium sulfate from barium enema. antacids. blocked bile ducts or liver disease. You should contact your doctor any time your child’s stool changes color, especially if they haven’t had any brightly colored foods or if the stools are pale, white, or clay-colored.
What is the best medicine for fatty stool?
Commonly prescribed medications include cholestyramine (Questran) to treat itching and ursodiol (Urso Forte), which aids in removing bile from the bloodstream. Your doctor may also suggest taking vitamins A, K, E, and D, to replace the nutrients that are lost in the fatty stools.
Normal vs. Abnormal Stools
Stools that are lightly colored or pale.
Causes
Concerning Symptoms
Diagnosing The Underlying Condition
Treatment
Summary
A Word from Verywell