Jaundice results in yellowing of skin and eyes due to buildup of which substance?

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Jaundice occurs when bilirubin, a waste product from heme breakdown, builds up in the blood and tissues, giving the skin and eyes a yellow tint. Normally, bilirubin from broken-down red blood cells travels to the liver, is conjugated to become water-soluble, and is excreted in bile. If this processing or excretion is impaired—due to increased production from hemolysis, liver disease, or bile duct obstruction—unconjugated or conjugated bilirubin accumulates, producing the yellow coloration.

Urobilinogen is a metabolite formed from bilirubin in the gut and can reflect how much bilirubin is being processed, but it isn’t the pigment that causes jaundice. Hemosiderin is an iron storage pigment and isn’t related to jaundice. Melanin is the skin pigment responsible for color variations and is not involved in bilirubin metabolism or jaundice.