If You Eat too Many Carrots, Will Your Skin Turn Orange? | UAMS Health (2024)
People wonder, will eating too many carrots change the color of your skin? The surprising fact is eating too many carrots, or other foods high in beta-carotene, can cause a yellowish discoloration of the skin, according to theDermatology Clinic at UAMS. This discoloration, a condition called carotenemia, is most noticeable on the palms and soles. Unlike jaundice, though, carotenemia does not cause yellowing of the whites of the eyes. Carotenemia is usually seen in young children, is not toxic and generally does not cause other health problems.
Treatment for this discoloration is a change to a low-carotene diet, but it may take several months for the skin to return to its normal color. Just don’t substitute tomatoes for your carrots. Eating too many tomatoes can cause a yellow-orange discoloration of the skin called lycopenemia, due to the accumulation of lycopene in the tissues. The treatment for lycopenemia is also dietary modification.
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The surprising fact is eating too many carrots, or other foods high in beta-carotene, can cause a yellowish discoloration of the skin, according to the Dermatology Clinic at UAMS. This discoloration, a condition called carotenemia
carotenemia
Carotenosis is a benign and reversible medical condition where an excess of dietary carotenoids results in orange discoloration of the outermost skin layer. The discoloration is most easily observed in light-skinned people and may be mistaken for jaundice.
When high levels of beta-carotene are consumed, not all of the pigment is converted to vitamin A. Some of it is circulated in the blood stream. If these high levels are sustained for some time, the skin may begin to take on an orange hue, a condition known as carotenemia.
One published case report (where researchers talk about one patient's case) found eating around 3 kilograms of carrots per week (about seven large carrots a day) induced skin colour changes. Other experts suggest you would need to eat at least ten carrots per day, for at least a few weeks, for colour changes to occur.
Eating carrots in moderation is good for your health. Eating carrots in excess, however, can cause a condition called carotenemia. This refers to yellowish discoloration of the skin because of the deposition of a substance called beta-carotene that is present in carrots.
First described in 1919 by Hess and Meyers, carotenemia is the medical terminology describing yellow-orange skin pigmentation due to high carotene levels in the blood. Excessive consumption of fruits and vegetables high in carotene content is often the culprit.
In reality, 100g of carrots a day, or just under one carrot (the average weight of which is 125g), should suffice. This serving of carrots contains about 8200 micrograms (µg) of beta-carotene, while the daily requirement for an adult is around 700 µg.
Drinking too much carrot juice can lead to carotenemia, a temporary condition where skin takes on a yellowish tint from too much beta-carotene in the blood. To enjoy the benefits of carrot juice without consuming too much vitamin A or beta-carotene, drink no more than half a glass — or 4 ounces a day.
“Eating about 20-50 mg of beta carotene per day for a few weeks can raise the skin colour, especially palms, soles, body folds etc, making them yellowish called carotenemia. This would mean eating about 10 carrots a day for a few weeks.
People can eat them raw, steamed, boiled, roasted, or as an ingredient in soups and stews. Boiling vegetables can reduce or eliminate some of the vitamin content. Raw or steamed carrots provide the most nutritional value.
And while some vegetables may not be the best thing to consume before you try to get some shut eye, carrots are one of the vegetables that will promote sleep as they contain the alpha-carotene nutrient as well as potassium.
And her discovery isn't entirely anecdotal—scientists confirm that carrots can indeed change the color of your skin. But calling it a "tan" is a bit of a stretch. “Eating too many beta-carotene-filled foods can turn your skin an orangey color,” dermatologist Dr. Melissa Piliang, MD revealed to Cleveland Clinic.
While you can develop hypervitaminosis A from consuming too much preformed vitamin A, you can't get it from consuming the carotenoids in vegetables or fruits, the Linus Pauling Institute explains.
This is because carrots and birch pollen have similar proteins and can cause your immune system to react in the same way. Your body releases histamine and antibodies to fight off the proteins, causing allergy-related symptoms. You may also be allergic to other vegetables and herbs in the parsley-carrot family.
High intakes of beta-carotene do not cause the same problems as preformed vitamin A. Consuming high amounts of beta-carotene can turn the skin yellow-orange, but this condition is harmless and goes away when you eat less of it.
Carotenemia is a condition in which yellow- or orange-colored skin develops due to high levels of beta-carotene in the blood. It is often caused by eating excessive amounts of foods or supplements high in the nutrient carotene . It can be resolved by reducing carotene intake and should not result in complications.
Since carotenemia is a diet-induced disease, it can be treated by reducing the amount of carotene consumed. Carotenemia caused by vitamin toxicity should be treated with the reduction of vitamin A intake.
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