Your urine can tell you more about your health than you might realize. While you usually expect to see some shade of yellow in the bowl, other colors can point to dehydration, an infection, or another health issue. Below, doctors explain what different pee colors mean and when an unusual color merits medical attention.
The yellow color of urine comes from a chemical byproduct that results when the kidneys do their job of processing waste, explains Koushik Shaw, M.D., a urologist and founder of Austin Urology Institute in Texas. The more dehydrated you are, the more concentrated the urine becomes and the darker the color gets. “A pale yellow color reflects a good balance between over- and underhydration,” he says.
Meet the Experts: Koushik Shaw, M.D., a urologist and founder of Austin Urology Institute in Texas and Scott Miller, M.D., M.B.A., urology specialty lead at Wellstar Health System.
Surprisingly, pee can present in a rainbow of colors, from red to green to even blue. Case in point: Heather West, who works in a hospital lab, captured the spectrum of pee colors in this pretty sweet (and slightly disturbing!) photo.
While some unusual colors are the result of something you ate, urine that’s persistently anything other than pale yellow generally merits an appointment with your provider. “In general, urine that is persistently red, brown, orange, cloudy, or unusually dark—especially if accompanied by pain, fever, difficulty urinating, or blood—should prompt evaluation by a healthcare provider,” explains Scott Miller, M.D., M.B.A., urology specialty lead at Wellstar Health System. “While some foods, vitamins, and medications can temporarily change urine color, persistent or unexplained discoloration should not be ignored, as it can signal dehydration, infection, kidney stones, liver disease, or other urinary tract conditions.”
Below, urologists explain what your pee color could mean about your health.
Red or pink pee
You probably ate beets, blackberries, or even rhubarb. Red or pink pee after enjoying some beets is common enough that it’s even got its own name: beeturia. Some of the compounds responsible for the color of these vibrant foods are excreted in the urine after the kidneys do their processing. It should clear up by the next day.
But if red pee lingers, Dr. Shaw says, it could be a sign of a bladder or kidney tumor. If you haven’t recently eaten one of the foods above—and especially if you notice any blood clots or other pieces of tissue in your pee—go see a doctor. Both tumors are extremely rare, but underdiagnosed in women, who are more likely to shrug off the incident as a weird period fluke, Dr. Shaw adds.
Blood in the urine can also be caused by other conditions, such as urinary tract infections, an enlarged prostate, or kidney cysts or stones. If you notice any other unusual symptoms alongside the red or pink color of your urine, such as burning, pain, or an odd smell, that also warrants a visit to the doc.
Orange pee
Just like your skin can skew orange when you eat too many carrots, so can your pee. Overdoing it means you’ve delivered yourself a heaping dose of beta-carotene, which is then excreted in urine.
Certain meds, like the over-the-counter UTI treatment phenazopyridine (Pyridium), the blood thinner warfarin, and some laxatives can also result in orange pee. The good news, Dr. Shaw says, is you know you’re taking these meds and a good doctor will give you the heads-up ahead of time to expect color changes so you don’t freak out.
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If you see more of a neon or fluorescent orange, though, something could be up with your liver, especially if you notice a yellowish tint to the whites of your eyes, Dr. Shaw says. Orange pee that skews slightly more brown could also just be a sign of dehydration.
Neon yellow pee
A vibrant, fluorescent yellow in your bowl is probably linked to your vitamin stash. B vitamins, especially B12, result in this dramatic hue change. It’s no cause for concern—except for the fact that you probably paid good money for those vitamins you just peed out!
Green pee
Even if you don’t notice that hallmark asparagus smell, the veggie might change the color of your pee to a greenish tint, Dr. Shaw says. In some rare instances, though, green urine could be a sign of a specific form of urinary tract infection called a proteus infection. The bug that causes it can also cause kidney stones, so if you still see green and you haven’t eaten anything with a particularly bright hue (say, a food that contains blue or green food coloring), it’s time to get it checked out, he says. Your doctor will likely recommend a course of antibiotics to clear up a UTI.
Blue pee
A rare genetic condition called hypercalcemia, which involves having too much calcium in your bones, can result in blue urine, Dr. Shaw says. Yep, blue pee is possible. But probable? “It’s so rare, I’ll probably never see a case in my lifetime,” he says.
What’s more likely, though, is that you ate something with a brightly colored food dye in it. Some medications, including the pain relievers amitriptyline and indomethacin, can also cause a blue tinge in your urine.
Brown pee
Most commonly, a brownish-yellow pee is just a sign that you should drink more water. Per the Mayo Clinic, brown urine can also result from eating tons of fava beans or rhubarb, medications (including some antibiotics, laxatives, or muscle relaxers), or even extreme exercise that causes a muscle injury.
Porphyrias are also a rare class of disorders that typically involve sensitivity to light and can sometimes lead to brownish-red urine due to the way red blood cells are broken down in the bodies of people with the condition. It’s likely another never-in-his-lifetime scenario, Dr. Shaw says, but if your brown pee is accompanied by abdominal pain, rashes, or seizures, it’s possible you have the genetic condition. As blood breaks down, it can appear more brownish, Dr. Shaw says, so brown pee could be a sign of something serious, like a tumor.
White pee
Pee doesn’t have to be green to signal that an infection has reared its ugly head. “Sometimes urine is more concentrated or darker with a UTI,” Dr. Shaw says—it’s why we’re often told to drink plenty of fluids when we have one.
But water alone might not get you out of the woods, especially if your urine becomes a cloudy white color. “That could be kidney stones or a really bad infection,” he says. “You’re basically peeing out pus.” Take those symptoms straight to the doctor, who can prescribe the appropriate treatment plan to help you feel better ASAP.
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