Clay-colored Stool
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Pale stools
Clay colored stools
Stool is white
Grayish stool
Pale stool 1 month after labor
About the Symptom
Pale stools describe white, clay, or putty-colored poop. White stool refers to stool that is pale, white, or look like clay or putty.
When to See a Doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
- White or pale stools
Possible Causes
Generally, Clay-colored stool can be related to:
Congenital Biliary Dilatation
Congenital biliary dilatation refers to abnormal widening of the bile ducts present at birth, impacting bile flow.
- Biliary Tract Cancer
Cancer of the bile ducts is also known as "cholangiocarcinoma." It is a cancer that arises in the bile ducts inside the liver or in the ducts that connect the liver to the gall bladder and intestines. Risk factors include genetic conditions, a condition called primary sclerosing cholangitis, chronic liver disease, infection with liver worms (flukes), smoking, diabetes, and age >50. Patients often come to their physicians with abdominal pain, jaundice (yellow skin and eyeballs), itchiness, and weight loss.
- Ulcerative Colitis
An inflammatory condition of the large intestine that damages the gut wall. The exact cause is not well known.
Infectious enteritis
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Are your stools white or clay-colored?
- Have you noticed any changes in your stool color?
- Has your baby's stool lightened in color since they turned one month old?
- Do you have pale, pebble-like stools?
- Are your stools green?
Reviewed By:
Samantha Nazareth, MD (Gastroenterology)
Board-certified gastroenterologist. Experience managing gastrointestinal conditions (GERD, IBS, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, celiac disease, NASH) within healthcare organizations (three ambulatory surgical centers, single-specialty practice, multi-specialty practice and solo practice).
Aiko Yoshioka, MD (Gastroenterology)
Dr. Yoshioka graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine. He worked as a gastroenterologist at Saiseikai Niigata Hospital and Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital before serving as the Deputy Chief of Gastroenterology at Tsubame Rosai Hospital and Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital. Dr. Yoshioka joined Saitama Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital as Chief of Gastroenterology in April 2018.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- White stool comes out
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FAQs
Q.
Yellow Eyes? Why Your Liver Is Yellowing: Gilbert’s Syndrome Next Steps
A.
Yellowing of the eyes is often from mild bilirubin buildup in Gilbert’s syndrome, a common, benign condition that can flare with fasting, dehydration, illness, stress, intense exercise, or lack of sleep. There are several factors to consider; see below for how to confirm the diagnosis, avoid triggers, stay hydrated, and tell clinicians because some medicines are processed differently. Do not assume all jaundice is Gilbert’s; seek care urgently for dark urine, pale or clay-colored stool, severe abdominal pain, fever, confusion, or rapid worsening, and get blood tests to rule out other liver or bile duct problems. Key next steps and nuances that could change your plan are detailed below.
References:
* Radu A, Bragaru C, Mihai S, et al. Gilbert Syndrome: Pathophysiology, Clinical Manifestations, and Management. J Clin Med. 2023 Dec 30;13(1):198. PMID: 38200676.
* Furlanello T, Furlanello F. Gilbert's Syndrome: The State of the Art. J Clin Med. 2023 Nov 27;12(23):7272. PMID: 38068994.
* Olsson R, Lindstedh J, Björnsson ES. Gilbert's syndrome: a fresh look at an old but interesting problem. Scand J Gastroenterol. 2022 Jan;57(1):1-6. PMID: 34503378.
* Balistreri WF, Schaffer F, Suchy FJ. Unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Clin Liver Dis. 2021 May;25(2):169-183. PMID: 33863488.
* Strassburg CP. Inherited disorders of bilirubin metabolism: an updated review. J Clin Med. 2018 Nov 13;7(11):444. PMID: 30428414.
Q.
Yellow Skin? Why Your Body Is Jaundiced & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Yellow skin or eyes usually means jaundice, a buildup of bilirubin caused by problems before the liver, inside the liver, or after the liver, and clues like dark urine, pale stools, itching, abdominal pain, or fever help narrow the cause. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. Do not ignore this; seek prompt medical care, and go to urgent care or the ER if severe pain, high fever, confusion, vomiting blood, black stools, or rapidly worsening symptoms occur. Diagnosis uses blood tests and imaging, and treatment targets the cause rather than home remedies; see the complete guidance below for important details that could change your next steps.
References:
* Woreta, T. A., & Nelson, J. A. (2024). Jaundice in Adults: Evaluation and Management. *Gastroenterology & Hepatology*, *20*(4), 198-206.
* Roccaro, A., & Catenacci, L. (2022). Evaluation of the Adult Patient with Jaundice. *Gastroenterology Clinics of North America*, *51*(2), 329-346.
* Chandran, S., Ramachandran, K., & Ramachandran, A. (2020). Approach to jaundice. *Clinics in Liver Disease*, *24*(2), 173-195.
* Kwo, P. Y., & Talwalkar, J. A. (2019). The Diagnostic Approach to Jaundice in Adults. *Clinics in Liver Disease*, *23*(2), 207-221.
* Strassburg, C. P., & Manns, M. P. (2018). Jaundice in the Adult: Diagnostic Approaches and Current Management. *Seminars in Liver Disease*, *38*(3), 200-212.
Q.
High Bilirubin? Why Your Liver Is Overwhelmed & Medically Approved Steps
A.
There are several factors to consider. High bilirubin usually means your liver or bile system is overwhelmed, most often from faster red blood cell breakdown, liver inflammation or damage, or a blockage that stops bile from flowing. Medically approved next steps include confirming the cause with labs and imaging, immediately protecting your liver by avoiding alcohol and risky medications, and treating the root issue such as hepatitis, gallstones, fatty liver, or hemolysis, with urgent care needed for worsening jaundice, pale stools, very dark urine, severe pain, fever, or confusion. For key details that can change your next steps and outcomes, see the complete guidance below.
References:
* Alshahrani, Othman, and Rawan Alshahrani. "Diagnosis and Management of Hyperbilirubinemia in Adults." *Cureus* vol. 14,1 e21171. 11 Jan. 2022, doi:10.7759/cureus.21171. PMID: 35123497.
* Sarin, Shiv Kumar et al. "Etiology, Pathogenesis, and Management of Jaundice in Adults." *Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hepatology* vol. 11,5 (2021): 1120-1138. doi:10.1016/j.jceh.2021.03.012. PMID: 34101905.
* Roche SP, Kobos R. "Hyperbilirubinemia: A Clinical Review." *Am Fam Physician*. 2020 Jul 15;102(2):112-118. PMID: 32675608.
* Krawczyk, Marcin et al. "Bilirubin metabolism and its disorders." *Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology : An Official Journal of the Polish Physiological Society* vol. 69,2 (2018): 207-219. doi:10.26402/jpp.2018.2.03. PMID: 29775317.
* Woreta TA, Alqahtani SA. "Interpreting Liver Function Tests." *Med Clin North Am*. 2020 May;104(3):483-495. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2020.02.003. PMID: 32230073.
Q.
Not Just a Tan? Why Your Skin is Staining Yellow & Medically Vetted Jaundice Recovery Plan
A.
Yellowing skin or eyes is usually jaundice, caused by a bilirubin buildup that can stem from liver disease, blocked bile ducts, or rapid red blood cell breakdown, and it ranges from reversible issues to conditions needing urgent care. There are several factors to consider for safe recovery, including proper testing, treating the root cause, strict liver protection, smart nutrition, close monitoring, and follow up; see the complete, medically vetted plan and emergency warning signs below.
References:
* Sartin, J. S., & Pockett, B. R. (2020). Jaundice in Adults: A Diagnostic Approach. *American Family Physician*, *101*(12), 738–745.
* Mahmud, N., & Kaplan, D. E. (2020). Approach to the Adult Patient with Jaundice. *Clinics in Liver Disease*, *24*(3), 305–321.
* Ma, J., Li, Y., Zheng, M., Zhang, H., Ding, J., & Fu, M. (2021). Carotenemia: A Review of the Differential Diagnosis and Clinical Significance. *Clinical Nutrition*, *40*(2), 241–246.
* Goyal, A., & Gupta, A. (2023). Jaundice in Adults: Causes, Diagnosis, and Management. In *StatPearls*. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.
* Staufer, K., Payer, B., Salzl, P., Wrba, F., Trauner, M., Reiberger, T., Schwabl, P., Hofer, H., & Mandorfer, M. (2021). Management of hyperbilirubinemia. Jaundice in adults—a diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm. *Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift*, *133*(13-14), 649–659.
Q.
Blood on Toilet Paper or Stool: Identifying the Causes of Bright Red Streaks
A.
There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. Bright red blood on toilet paper or streaks on stool most often comes from the lower digestive tract due to hemorrhoids, anal fissures, or constipation, but can also reflect proctitis, inflammatory bowel disease, or less commonly colon polyps or cancer; seek prompt care if bleeding persists, is heavy, mixes with stool, or occurs with dizziness, fever, severe pain, weight loss, or family history, and while hydration, fiber, gentle wiping, and sitz baths may help mild cases, the details below can guide whether you should self care or get evaluated sooner.
References:
* Staller, K., Ngufor, C., Giallourakis, C. C., & Tsoi, K. (2023). Approach to the patient with lower gastrointestinal bleeding. *BMJ*, *381*, e073539. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2022-073539. PMID: 37045479.
* Barkun, A. N., Karlin, D. A., & Chait, M. M. (2023). Acute lower gastrointestinal bleeding: a practical approach. *Gastrointestinal Endoscopy*, *98*(3), 360–370. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2023.06.012. PMID: 37402517.
* Malik, Z., Makker, J., Monaghan, J., Shah, C., & Abrol, H. (2017). Common Causes of Anorectal Bleeding. *Diseases of the Colon & Rectum*, *60*(1), 106–113. doi: 10.1097/DCR.0000000000000735. PMID: 27959828.
* Mapel, D. W., Salek, M. S., DeLuca, M., & Salek, M. S. (2016). Contemporary management of anal fissures. *American Journal of Surgery*, *212*(6), 1179–1188. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2016.03.018. PMID: 27150036.
* Lohsiriwat, V. (2012). Hemorrhoids: from basic pathophysiology to clinical management. *World Journal of Gastroenterology*, *18*(17), 2028–2035. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v18.i17.2028. PMID: 22563187; PMCID: PMC3342592.
Q.
Is It Crohn’s or UC? How Blood, Mucus, and Consistency Differ
A.
There are several stool features to consider. UC typically causes frequent, urgent diarrhea with bright red blood and mucus, while Crohn’s shows more variable patterns with less frequent or darker bleeding and less prominent mucus, sometimes fatty or bulky when the small intestine is involved. These clues help but do not diagnose; see the complete breakdown below for key nuances, red flags, and when to seek care so you can choose the right next steps.
References:
* Annunziata M, Ianiro G, Ponziani FR, Sgambato D, D'Aversa F, Gasbarrini A, Settanni CR. Distinguishing ulcerative colitis from Crohn's disease: Diagnostic challenges and recent advances. World J Gastroenterol. 2013 Sep 21;19(35):5630-5. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v19.i35.5630. PMID: 24078839.
* Van den Heuvel TR, Boshuizen RC, de Jong DJ, Bekkers C, de Boer NK, van Rheenen PF. Clinical predictors of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis: a systematic review. J Crohns Colitis. 2014 Feb;8(2):87-97. doi: 10.1016/j.crohns.2013.07.014. Epub 2013 Aug 12. PMID: 24434237.
* Zhang J, Li Y, Yang G, Zhang Y, He Y, Huang X. Ulcerative colitis vs. Crohn's disease: Clinical differentiation and management strategies. World J Gastrointest Pathophysiol. 2021 Feb 20;12(1):1-14. doi: 10.4291/wjgp.v12.i1.1. PMID: 33643719.
* Sturm A, Maaser C, Faubion WA Jr, Ma C. Diagnostic Algorithms for Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Dig Dis. 2022;40(4):420-431. doi: 10.1159/000523824. Epub 2022 Apr 27. PMID: 35477218.
* Ng SC, Plamondon S, Al Bustami R, Subramaniam K, Al Dhaheri Y, Al Marzouqi F, Al Hashimi G, Awad C, Rashid K, Hamad AM. Clinical features of inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review of the literature. BMC Gastroenterol. 2023 Apr 26;23(1):153. doi: 10.1186/s12876-023-02759-4. PMID: 37101188.
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