Health 26/10/2025 23:58

14 Symptoms of Liver Damage You Need to Know

Your liver is one of the most vital organs in your body — a silent workhorse that supports hundreds of biochemical processes essential for survival. Located under the rib cage on the right side of your abdomen, it filters blood from the digestive tract, metabolizes nutrients, medications, and chemicals, eliminates toxins and waste, and produces key proteins that help your body function.

When the liver becomes injured or overworked to the point where it can’t carry out these tasks efficiently, liver damage occurs. If left untreated, this can progress to liver failure, a potentially life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical care.

Common causes of liver damage include excessive alcohol use, overconsumption of processed foods, obesity, viral infections such as hepatitis, certain medications, and autoimmune disorders. Over time, repeated injury leads to inflammation, then scarring (fibrosis), and eventually cirrhosis — when the liver becomes hard and lumpy with nodules, impairing its ability to regenerate.

Common liver conditions include nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), cirrhosis, hepatitis, drug-induced liver injury, and liver cancer. Recognizing early warning signs can make a critical difference in slowing or even reversing the damage.

Here are 14 signs and symptoms of liver damage — moving from early, subtle changes to more advanced and serious ones.

14. Loss of Appetite

A damaged liver struggles to metabolize fats and proteins efficiently, disrupting bile production and making it difficult to digest fatty foods. This often leads to nausea, vomiting, and aversion to meals rich in fat or protein. Persistent appetite loss can result in nutrient deficiencies and weight loss.

13. Changes in Skin

Your skin can reveal a lot about your liver health. As liver function declines, hormonal imbalances and changes in blood flow may cause small spider-like veins (spider angiomas) to appear on your face, chest, or arms. Some people develop red blotches on the palms and soles.

In more severe cases, jaundice develops — a yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes caused by a buildup of bilirubin, a waste product that the liver can no longer process properly. It’s one of the most recognizable indicators of liver dysfunction.

12. Fatigue & Difficulty Concentrating

When the liver can’t efficiently detoxify the bloodstream, toxins begin to circulate throughout the body, resulting in constant fatigue, brain fog, and poor concentration. Nutrient absorption also declines, further depleting your energy.

In advanced liver disease, this buildup of toxins can cause hepatic encephalopathy, a condition that affects brain function. Symptoms include confusion, forgetfulness, and even personality changes.

11. Sleep Disturbances

Many people with chronic liver disease report trouble falling or staying asleep. As liver function worsens, metabolic waste accumulates and interferes with the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle. Physical discomfort — such as abdominal swelling or itching — can also make restful sleep difficult, contributing to an ongoing cycle of exhaustion.

10. Weight Loss & Muscle Wasting

Malnutrition is a frequent consequence of chronic liver disease. Poor appetite, digestive issues, and metabolic changes cause involuntary weight loss. In severe cases, muscle wasting (sarcopenia) develops, where the body breaks down muscle tissue for energy.

People with cirrhosis may experience what’s called “accelerated starvation”, meaning that just 10 hours without food can affect their body as much as three days of fasting would in a healthy person.

9. Abdominal Swelling & Pain

Abdominal swelling, or ascites, is one of the hallmark signs of cirrhosis. It occurs when declining liver function and protein loss cause fluid to leak into the abdominal cavity. The result is a bloated, tight belly that may be tender or painful.

Another contributing factor is portal hypertension — increased pressure in the vein that carries blood from your intestines to your liver. This condition can also enlarge the spleen and cause pain that radiates to your upper left abdomen or back.

8. Itchy Skin

Persistent itching (known as pruritus) is a surprisingly common symptom of liver disease. It occurs when bile flow slows or stops, allowing bile salts to build up under the skin. The itching is often most intense on the palms and soles, may worsen at night, and isn’t usually accompanied by a rash.

7. Changes in Bowel Movements

The liver produces bile, which helps digest fats and gives stool its brown color. When bile production or flow is disrupted, stools may become pale, gray, or clay-colored. You might also experience alternating constipation and diarrhea, depending on how your body attempts to eliminate toxins.

6. Changes in Urine

Dark or tea-colored urine can signal rising bilirubin levels. When the liver fails to process this yellowish pigment, it enters the bloodstream and is excreted through the kidneys, darkening the urine. This symptom often appears early in liver disease — sometimes before jaundice becomes visible.

5. Easy Bruising & Excessive Bleeding

A healthy liver produces proteins essential for blood clotting. When these are deficient, even minor bumps can cause bruising or prolonged bleeding. Frequent nosebleeds, bleeding gums, or slow healing from small cuts can all be red flags.

In advanced cases, enlarged veins (varices) may develop in the esophagus or stomach due to portal hypertension. If these veins rupture, they can cause dangerous internal bleeding that requires immediate medical attention — often signaled by vomiting blood or passing black, tarry stool.

4. Swelling in Legs or Ankles

Fluid retention doesn’t only affect the abdomen — it can also cause swelling in the legs, feet, and ankles. This happens when low blood protein levels allow fluid to leak into tissues. The swelling tends to worsen by evening and improve overnight when the legs are elevated.

3. Nail Changes

The nails often mirror internal health problems. Liver disease can cause several nail abnormalities, such as Terry’s nails — where the nail appears mostly white with a thin reddish-brown band near the tip.

In one study, around 68% of patients with liver disease showed nail changes, compared to 35% in healthy individuals. Other issues include ridges, brittleness, clubbing (rounded fingertips), thickened nails, or yellowish discoloration.

2. Impotence & Loss of Libido

Men with liver disease, especially those with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or alcohol-related liver damage, often experience erectile dysfunction or a reduced interest in sex. Hormonal imbalances, lowered testosterone, and poor blood circulation all play a role.

For women, liver disease may cause menstrual irregularities or reduced fertility, highlighting how liver health directly influences hormone balance.

1. Bad Breath (Fetor Hepaticus)

This distinct symptom is not your ordinary bad breath. Fetor hepaticus produces a musty, sweet, or sulfur-like odor — sometimes described as a mix of rotten eggs and garlic. It occurs when volatile sulfur compounds escape into the lungs due to impaired liver detoxification. Unfortunately, it indicates severe liver damage and cannot be treated with mints or mouthwash.

Final Thoughts

Your liver rarely complains until the damage becomes advanced — but by paying attention to these early signs, you can take steps toward recovery before it’s too late. If you experience multiple symptoms from this list, or they persist over time, consult a healthcare professional. Early diagnosis through blood tests, imaging, or liver function assessments can make a life-changing difference.

A balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, limiting alcohol, and avoiding unnecessary medications can go a long way toward keeping your liver — and your entire body — strong and healthy.