While this may be a concern, the onset of black urine is often caused by minor changes, such as eating certain foods or using new medications prescribed by your doctor.
However, this urine color can also be caused by more serious health problems, such as porphyria or even skin cancer, for example, if black urine appears for more than 2 days or if accompanied by other symptoms, it is advisable to see your family doctor to identify the cause and begin appropriate treatment.
Changes in urine color often have 3 main types of causes
This is the least worrisome cause of the appearance of black urine and is related to the excessive intake of foods with natural or artificial colors such as:
In addition, sorbitol-rich foods such as apples, pears, peaches, and plums, as well as sugar-free foods such as chewing gum, ice cream, or candy can also change the color of urine to black. very large amounts, also causes stomach pain, cramps and diarrhea.
The use of copper pots for cooking can also cause black urine in some people, especially those who cannot metabolize the mineral, eliminating it in large amounts in the urine, making the urine very dark. .
What to do: If the person realizes that urine has turned black after a meal rich in this type of food, although this is not a problem, it is recommended to avoid eating these foods, opting for others that may have nutritional effects or similar characteristics.
This is the second cause of urine color change and usually occurs due to frequent contact with certain chemicals found in various medications. Some of the drugs or chemicals that can cause black urine include:
In some cases, povidone iodine, a liquid widely used to clean certain wounds, when used on very large skin surfaces, can be absorbed by the body and removed in the urine, causing the color black.
What to do: When the problem is caused by the use of these medicines, consult the doctor who prescribed them to adjust the dose used or change the medicine.
One of the main health problems that can cause the development of black urine is skin cancer, as it causes excessive production of melanin, the substance that causes dark skin color. When present at high levels, melanin can be removed by the body through urine, leaving it dark brown or black.
However, other rarer diseases such as alcaptonuria, skin porphyria, or black water fever can also cause black urine. In addition, liver problems, such as hepatitis or cirrhosis, kidney infections, or diseases caused by viruses such as Haff’s disease, can darken urine. , such as brown or red, and can be easily confused with black urine.
What to do: If black urine has occurred unrelated to the use of medicines or food, it is advisable to quickly consult a family doctor to identify if there is a disease that is causing the problem, in order to initiate appropriate treatment, which varies depending on the cause.