Clay Colored Stool (Pale Stool)

What is a pale or clay-colored stool?

Clay-colored or pale poop is poop that’s much lighter than normal. It can be white, gray or light tan. Normal stool (poop) is usually a shade of brown, but poop colors can vary.

Having light-colored poop one time or once every so often isn’t typically a cause for worry. But if you regularly see poop that is gray, white or pale, you should call a healthcare provider. It could be a sign of something serious, like a problem with your bile duct, liver, pancreas or gallbladder.

What are common causes of pale stool?

The most common cause of pale stool is an issue with your biliary system. This system involves your gallbladder, liver and bile ducts. Its main job is to make, store and transfer bile through your body. Bile is a fluid your liver makes that helps digest your food. Bile contains bilirubin, and that’s what gives your poop its brown color.

But if you don’t have enough bile or it’s not flowing as it should, your poop can become pale, or clay colored. It’s usually a sign of an underlying health condition.

Examples of health conditions that can cause pale poop are:

• Hepatitis, including viral hepatitis, toxic hepatitis and alcohol-induced hepatitis
• Cirrhosis
• Steatotic (fatty) liver disease
• Biliary strictures (narrowing of your bile ducts) or blockages
• Gallstones
• Cholestasis and cholestasis of pregnancy
• Sclerosing cholangitis
• Biliary atresia
• Tumors or cysts on your liver, bile ducts or gallbladder or pancreas
• Pancreatitis

Remember, having pale poop occasionally may not be a cause for concern. But if it happens frequently or for several days in a row, it’s important to seek care.

How do healthcare providers treat pale stool?

Your provider needs to figure out what’s causing your poop to be a lighter color. First, they’ll want to know details about your symptoms, eating habits and medical history. Then, they’ll probably do a physical exam.

There are several tests they can order to get them one step closer to finding the cause of pale poop. These could include:

• Blood tests to check for infection and liver function
• Abdominal ultrasound to look for inflammation and blockages
• CT scan or MRI to get a better view of any blockages, stones or abnormal growths
• Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)

Treatment depends on the cause. Some possible treatment options could be:

• Changing your eating or drinking habits (for example, limiting beverages containing alcohol or cutting back on fatty foods)
• Surgery to treat bile duct blockages or remove your gallbladder
• Medications to treat viral hepatitis, reduce liver inflammation or dissolve gallstones
• Liver surgery (rare)

What are the complications of not getting treatment?

Pale stools are often a sign of an underlying condition that will worsen without medical care. That’s why it’s important to contact a healthcare provider if you have persistent light or clay-colored poop.

Some possible complications are:

• Cirrhosis can increase your risk for liver cancer
• Chronic pancreatitis can increase your risk for pancreatic cancer
• Hepatitis can lead to liver failure and increase your risk for liver cancer
• Biliary strictures can lead to cholangitis or cancer

Can clay-colored poop be prevented?

There are some things you can do to reduce your risk of certain diseases that lead to pale stool. These include:

• Eating nutritious foods. Try to eat balanced meals that include lean protein, fiber, healthy sources of fat and whole grains.
• Maintain weight that’s healthy for you. Having obesity can increase your risk of chronic liver disease.
• Avoid getting viral hepatitis. Vaccines are available for hepatitis A and hepatitis B. Other things you can do include not sharing needles and practicing safe sex.
• Limit beverages containing alcohol. Unsafe amounts of these beverages can damage your liver.

When should I call a doctor about pale stool?

Contact your healthcare provider if you have light-colored or pale stools for more than a few days. They’ll want to know your symptoms and order tests to see what’s causing it.

If you have clay-colored poop and yellow skin or eyes (jaundice) and dark pee, contact a healthcare provider right away.