Fatty liver disease is becoming much more common around the world.
Spending more time sitting, eating high-calorie foods, and gaining excess weight have all increased the number of people with this condition. Many people do not know they have it because it often develops without clear symptoms.
The liver is one of the body’s most important organs. It removes harmful substances from the blood, stores energy, processes nutrients from food, and makes proteins that help the body work properly. When too much fat builds up inside the liver, it cannot do these jobs as well as it should.
Doctors usually divide fatty liver disease into two main types. Alcohol-related fatty liver disease is caused by drinking too much alcohol over time.
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, now often called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), develops in people who drink little or no alcohol and is closely linked to obesity, type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, and a lack of exercise.
Most people have no symptoms in the early stages. The condition is often discovered during a routine blood test or an ultrasound scan. However, doctors have noticed that some people develop small changes that may appear on the face before more serious liver problems develop.
One possible warning sign is yellowing of the skin or the whites of the eyes. This is called jaundice. It happens when the liver cannot remove bilirubin, a yellow substance produced when old red blood cells break down. As bilirubin builds up in the blood, the skin and eyes may begin to look yellow.
Another possible sign is the appearance of small red blood vessels that look like tiny spiders. These are called spider angiomas and often appear on the face, neck, or upper chest. They develop when small blood vessels near the skin become wider than normal. A few of these spots are usually harmless, but having many of them can sometimes be linked to liver disease.
Some people may also notice puffiness around the eyes. When the liver is not working well, the body may have trouble keeping the right balance of fluid and proteins. This can lead to fluid collecting around the eyes. However, puffy eyes can also be caused by allergies, poor sleep, or aging.
Changes in skin color may also occur. Some people develop darker or lighter patches on the face because liver problems can affect hormones and the way the body processes certain substances. These changes alone do not mean someone has liver disease, but they should not be ignored if they appear together with other symptoms.
Researchers have reported many findings about fatty liver disease in medical journals including Hepatology and The Journal of Hepatology. Doctors do not diagnose the disease by looking at the face alone. Blood tests, ultrasound scans, and other imaging tests are usually needed to confirm whether the liver is affected.
As the disease becomes more serious, people may feel tired all the time or notice discomfort in the upper right side of the abdomen where the liver is located. In advanced cases, inflammation can lead to scarring, known as fibrosis, and later cirrhosis. Severe liver damage may eventually cause liver failure or liver cancer.
The good news is that fatty liver disease can often be improved or even reversed if it is found early. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, losing excess weight, limiting alcohol, and controlling blood sugar and cholesterol can all help protect the liver.
If you notice unusual changes in your face or have other possible symptoms, it is important to speak with your doctor so any problems can be found and treated early.
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