After going to the bathroom, ever look back and see what your urine looks like? Sure, we’ve all done it from time to time, but what do you do if your urine looks foamy? Never thought about it? You’re not the only one.
But, as it turns out, foamy urine is something that we really need to pay attention to.
It’s normal to have low levels of protein in your urine as part of this waste process, according to the Mayo Clinic, but certain things can make it spike enough to cause foamy pee.
For example, if you’re dehydrated, you might notice a foamy pee situation.
Normal urine is clear, with a yellowish hue, with no blood or foam. But foam is different from bubbles.
“Bubbles are bigger, clear, and flushable,” Dr. Ghossein explains, noting that everyone will have bubbles in the toilet after urinating. Foam, on the other hand, is white, and it stays in the toilet after you flush.
Foamy urine is a sign of protein in the urine, which is not normal. “Kidneys filter the protein, but should keep it in the body,” explains Dr. Ghossein.
If kidneys are releasing protein into the urine, they are not working properly.
This could be caused by a number of diseases that directly impact the kidneys, such as lupus or diabetes, but can also be a symptom of a medical issue affecting other systems in your body.
If you notice foam in your urine, Dr. Ghossein says the first thing you should do is