Health Tip: Why My Baby's Skin Has a Yellow Tint

(HealthDay News) -- Jaundice occurs when a person''s skin and whites of the eyes develop a yellowish tint. The cause is a buildup of a substance called bilirubin, which is produced by liver when it breaks down old red blood cells.

This can occur in newborns and young infants for a variety of reasons. Here are a few common causes of infant jaundice, courtesy of the Nemours Foundation:

• The baby''s liver may not yet be developed enough to remove bilirubin from the blood.
• The liver overproduces bilirubin.
• Too much bilirubin is being absorbed by the intestines before it can be passed in stools.
• Substances in the mother''s breast milk may increase bilirubin levels in her baby.

Jaundice usually isn''t dangerous, but infants with the condition should be evaluated by a physician as soon as possible, the foundation advises.

-- Diana Kohnle

Last Updated: Dec. 28, 2006

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