Digestive Health Daily Care How to Know When Pale or Clay-Colored Stool May Be a Problem By Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 08, 2022 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Priyanka Chugh, MD Medically reviewed by Priyanka Chugh, MD LinkedIn Priyanka Chugh, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist in practice with Trinity Health of New England in Waterbury, Connecticut. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Normal vs, Abnormal Stool Causes Symptoms Diagnosis Treatment Having a white or pale stool just once, or rarely, is not usually a concern. But when your poop color is consistently too light, it is something that you should discuss with a healthcare provider. Stools that are pale, white, or look like clay or putty may result from many things. Sometimes a lack of bile or a blockage in the bile ducts can result in light-colored stools. Bile is a thick fluid that the liver makes to break down fats and remove waste from your body. It turns your stools a brown color. Acholic The medical term, "acholic," refers to light-colored stools that result from a lack of bile. Other reasons for light-colored stools include hepatitis, gallstones, infections, blockages, or passing barium in the stool after a colon test like a barium enema. Verywell / Zoe Hansen This article explains pale stools, their causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. Normal vs. Abnormal Stools Healthy stools come in many sizes, shapes, and colors. When it comes to how often you poop or what your stool looks like, everyone is different. So, there is a wide range of "normal." However, there are some general guidelines for identifying typical, healthy stools. Healthy Stools Characteristics of healthy stools include:Bowel movements are soft and easy to passBrown or golden in colorTextured like peanut butterShaped like sausage However, there are times when what you see in the toilet bowl is probably outside what would be considered typical. Abnormal Stools Unusual stools may be: Bloody Hard Watery or mushy Black or tarry Red Green Pale or clay-like Contact your healthcare provider if you notice unusual stools more than just occasionally or are concerned about the size, shape, or color of stools. Everything You Need to Know About the Bristol Stool Chart Causes The biliary system is the drainage system of the gallbladder, liver, and pancreas. Bile, a digestive fluid, is created in the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and finally released into the first section of the small intestine (the duodenum) while food passes. Some medical issues can affect the liver or biliary system and cause pale stools. These include: Alcoholic hepatitis, a disease from alcohol overexposure Biliary cirrhosis, a type of liver disease where the bile ducts are damaged Congenital disability of the biliary system Cysts in a bile duct Gallstones, calcium deposits in the gallbladder that could block bile ducts Hepatitis A, B, or C, infectious liver diseases that may cause a lack of bile Infections that could affect the biliary system Sclerosing cholangitis, a disease that can cause a lack of bile production or a blockage in the bile ducts Side effects of some medications that can cause drug-induced liver disease, including acetaminophen (Tylenol), hormonal birth control, and antibiotics. Strictures, a narrowing of the intestine that could block the flow of bile A tumor that could block the flow of bile Since pale stools can signify a serious problem with the liver or biliary system, it's a good idea to talk to a healthcare provider if your symptoms last longer than a few days. Concerning Symptoms Clay-colored stool caused by a medical condition might also be accompanied by a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (jaundice) or darkened urine. The presence of jaundice and pale stools could indicate a buildup of chemicals in your body. Therefore, jaundice is a serious condition you should discuss with a healthcare provider. Diagnosing the Underlying Condition A healthcare provider must first identify the underlying cause to treat pale stools. In addition to a complete medical history, they may order some of the following tests: Liver function tests, blood tests to help determine if a condition involves the liver Abdominal ultrasound, look at things like the gallbladder Blood work to test for infection Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), a type of endoscopy to see inside the pancreas and bile ducts Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT scan) What Is Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)? Treatment Treatment depends on the underlying cause. For example, if medications or supplements are suspected causes, you may need to adjust or switch which drugs you take. Likewise, you may need to change your diet if a healthcare provider believes malabsorption is a contributing factor. In addition, if the liver is involved, a healthcare provider may advise that you avoid drinking alcohol. If your pale stools are caused by something structural, like blocked bile ducts, you may need surgery to remove the blockage or widen the passageway. Hepatitis may require antivirals, while a liver transplant is the only way to resolve cirrhosis. How Hepatitis C Is Treated Summary An occasional odd-colored stool isn't usually a concern. However, if pale stools stick around, it can indicate a problem with bile ducts or another underlying medical condition. So, it's essential to seek medical advice, especially if any other symptoms occur along with it, like jaundice or pain. Your healthcare provider may want to run some tests to see what might be causing pale-colored stools. Treatment depends on the cause. A Word From Verywell It's understandably uncomfortable to talk to someone about your poop. But your healthcare provider wants to know the details so that they can better help you. The earlier you have the conversation, the better treatment you can receive. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Gas pain? Stool issues? Sign up for the best tips to take care of your stomach. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Funch-jensen P, Drewes AM, Madácsy L. Evaluation of the biliary tract in patients with functional biliary symptoms. World J Gastroenterol. 2006;12(18):2839-45. doi:10.3748/wjg.v12.i18.2839 Beckingham IJ, Ryder SD. ABC of diseases of liver, pancreas, and biliary system. Investigation of liver and biliary disease. BMJ. 2001;322(7277):33-6. doi:10.1136/bmj.322.7277.33 Additional Reading Dugdale DC. Stools - Pale or Clay-Colored. MedlinePlus. 22 Jul 2016. Picco MF. Stool Color: When to Worry." Mayo Clinic. 6 Oct 2016. S. Mark Taper Foundation Imaging Center. Barium Swallow. Cedars-Sinai 2013.