Man suffering from jaundice, showing marked yellowing of the skin on his upper body. Jaundice, a yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, indicates excess bilirubin (a bile pigment) in the blood. Jaundice occurs in three forms. Obstructive jaundice results in the failure of bile produced in the liver to reach the intestines, due to obstruction of the bile ducts by, for example, gall stones. Hepatocellular jaundice is caused by liver diseases such as hepatitis, when the liver is unable to utilize bilirubin, which accumulates in blood. Haemolytic jaundice results from excessive destruction of red cells in blood.