Why Does My Skin Look Green?

Everyone’s skin changes color from time to time. A sunburn turns it red. Bruises turn it purple. But green skin is different. It is not normal. If your skin looks green, it is a sign that something is happening inside your body. The most common reason is a buildup of a green pigment called biliverdin. This pigment comes from the breakdown of old red blood cells. When it builds up in the skin, it can give the skin a greenish tint. Other causes include copper exposure and certain medications. This article explains the main reasons skin can turn green and what you need to know.

What Causes Green Skin?

The most direct cause of green skin is a pigment called biliverdin. This is a natural byproduct when the body recycles old red blood cells. Normally, biliverdin is quickly converted to bilirubin, which is yellow. In certain medical conditions, that conversion does not happen properly. Biliverdin builds up in the blood and eventually settles in the skin. Because biliverdin is green, the skin takes on a green color.

This typically happens with liver or gallbladder problems. For example, a blocked bile duct or severe liver failure can stop biliverdin from being processed. The condition is sometimes called “green jaundice” or “verdinicterus.” It is much less common than regular yellow jaundice, but it is a known medical sign. It is worth noting that green skin from biliverdin is usually a sign of a serious underlying problem, not a minor one.

Other causes include exposure to copper. Copper can enter the body through drinking water from copper pipes, copper supplements, or industrial exposure. In some cases, copper accumulates in the skin and gives it a greenish hue. This can also affect the hair and nails. Copper toxicity is rare but has been documented.

Certain medications can also cause skin discoloration that appears green. These are typically drugs used for heart conditions, acne, or malaria. The pigment change is often more blue-gray than true green, but in some people it can look green. The mechanism varies by drug. Some medications bind to skin cells, while others trigger pigment production.

Is Green Skin a Sign of Jaundice?

Jaundice is the yellowing of the skin and eyes. It happens when bilirubin builds up in the blood. Green skin is not the typical sign of jaundice. However, in severe or long-standing jaundice, biliverdin can build up as well. When both bilirubin and biliverdin are present, the skin can take on a greenish-yellow or greenish-brown color. This is sometimes called “green jaundice.”

Green jaundice is most often seen in people with chronic bile duct obstruction, such as from a tumor or a stricture. It can also occur in advanced liver failure or in people who have had a liver transplant and develop complications. In these cases, the green color means the liver is not processing bilirubin and biliverdin fast enough. The green tint is a sign that the problem has been going on for a while.

If you have jaundice that turns green, you need medical attention quickly. This is not a benign change. It usually indicates that the underlying condition is worsening.

Can Medications Make Your Skin Green?

Yes, certain medications can cause skin color changes that may appear green. This is not a common side effect, but it has been reported. The most well-known group is the class of drugs called phenothiazines, which are used for psychiatric conditions. These can cause a blue-gray to slate-gray discoloration, but in some people it can look greenish, especially on sun-exposed areas.

Another group is antimalarial drugs. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine can cause pigmentation changes, most often a blue-black or gray color. Rarely, it can appear green. The same goes for some antibiotics, such as minocycline, which is used for acne. Minocycline can cause a blue-black pigmentation in the skin, gums, and nails. In certain cases, it has been described as greenish. Amiodarone, a heart medication, can also cause skin discoloration that is typically blue-gray but may appear green in some people.

The key point is that this is a known but uncommon side effect. If you are taking a medication and notice your skin turning green, do not stop the medication on your own. Talk to your doctor. They can evaluate whether the drug is the cause and whether a change is needed.

Can Copper Make Your Skin Green?

Copper is an essential mineral, but too much can cause problems. One sign of copper overload is a greenish discoloration of the skin, hair, or nails. This can happen from drinking water that has passed through copper pipes, especially if the water is acidic. It can also happen from taking too much copper in supplements, or from industrial exposure.

Copper is absorbed in the gut and then stored in the liver. When the liver cannot handle the excess, copper builds up in tissues, including the skin. This is more common in people with a rare genetic condition called Wilson’s disease, which interferes with copper metabolism. In Wilson’s disease, copper accumulates in the liver, brain, and eyes. One classic sign is a greenish-brown ring around the cornea, called a Kayser-Fleischer ring. But the skin can also take on a greenish tint, especially around the nails and hair.

Copper toxicity is treatable. If your skin looks green and you have other symptoms like fatigue, nausea, or a metallic taste, ask your doctor about copper levels. Blood and urine tests can measure copper.

Could It Be Something Else?

There are a few other rare causes of green skin. Some people develop a greenish tint from tattoos, especially if a tattoo ink contains certain pigments. This is usually limited to the tattooed area, not the whole body.

Another rare cause is a pseudomonas bacterial infection. This bacteria can produce a green pigment called pyocyanin. It usually affects wounds or burn sites, not healthy skin. The skin around the infection may look green.

Some people worry that green skin could come from eating green foods, like spinach or wheatgrass. No evidence supports this. The chlorophyll in plants is not absorbed in a way that colors the skin. Similarly, green clothing or dye does not stain the skin permanently. If your skin looks green and you have not been in contact with dyes, the cause is internal.

Argyria, from silver exposure, causes a blue-gray skin color, not green. It is worth mentioning because people sometimes confuse blue-gray with green. True green skin is rarely from silver.

When Should You See a Doctor?

You should see a doctor any time your skin changes color for no obvious reason. Green skin is not something to watch and wait on. It could be a sign of liver disease, copper toxicity, or a medication reaction. All of these require medical evaluation.

Seek help right away if the green color is accompanied by yellowing of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools, or belly pain. These could be signs of a blocked bile duct or liver failure. Also seek help if you have a history of liver disease, Wilson’s disease in your family, or if you take medications that can cause pigmentation.

A doctor will start with a physical exam and ask about your medical history. They may order blood tests to check liver function, bilirubin levels, and copper levels. In some cases, a skin biopsy may be needed. The treatment depends on the cause. If it is from a medication, the drug may be stopped. If it is from copper, chelation therapy can remove excess copper. If it is from liver disease, treatment of the underlying condition is the priority.