There has been a significant rise in the number of deaths caused by liver disease in recent years, making it more important than ever to be wary of symptoms that could suggest an anomaly in your liver’s function.
Liver disease is often called the “silent killer” as most of them do not show any symptoms until it is too late.
According to the NHS website, most liver diseases do not cause any symptoms in the early stages. Once you start to get symptoms of liver disease, your liver is already damaged and scarred. This is known as cirrhosis.
However, a gastroenterologist on Tiktok shared four things to look out for on your skin that could signify underlying liver disease.
Creator @doctorsethimd on Tiktok has gained popularity over his last videos after sharing a multitude of videos pertaining to digestional health.
In a video titled “Four skin changes that could indicate liver disease,” the Havard and Stanford-trained doctor shared factors to look for on one’s skin that could indicate a problem with the liver.
He said: “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 are 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 problems.”
The three leading causes of liver disease are obesity, an undiagnosed hepatitis infection and alcohol misuse.
You can reduce your risk of liver disease by trying to maintain a healthy weight, not drinking too much alcohol, and getting vaccinated for hepatitis.
