Long-term pale stool might be a sign of conditions that affect the bile ducts, liver, or gallbladder. Newborns with neonatal jaundice may have clay-colored stool due to high bilirubin levels.

Pale or light-colored stools can be a sign of a liver or gallbladder problem. Bile is important for stool color; without enough bile, stools become pale. Liver diseases like hepatitis or cirrhosis can ...

Common symptoms are changes in stool appearance and texture. Normally, stool is brown, but people with bile duct cancer may have pale or clay-colored stools that are oily and float in water. Also ...