Consuming a high volume of carrots and other specific produce can subtly change the color of your skin. This change is directly related to the intake of natural plant pigments. It is a harmless and temporary phenomenon resulting from how the body processes these colorful compounds. The visual effect is typically an orange or yellow tint that becomes noticeable after weeks of consistent, high consumption.
The Role of Carotenoids
The compounds responsible for this change are carotenoids, which are the yellow, orange, and red pigments found in many plants. Carrots are particularly rich in beta-carotene, a type of carotenoid that gives them their characteristic orange hue. While carrots are the most famous source, many other foods contain high levels of these pigments, often masked by green chlorophyll. These include sweet potatoes, pumpkin, butternut squash, cantaloupe, apricots, spinach, and kale. When these foods are consumed, the body processes the ingested color.
How the Body Deposits Color (Carotenemia)
When beta-carotene is ingested, the body attempts to convert it into retinol, a form of Vitamin A, in the small intestine. The body tightly regulates this conversion, only transforming the amount needed for vital functions. When excess pigment is consumed, the surplus remains unconverted. This unconverted beta-carotene is a fat-soluble compound that enters the bloodstream. It is transported and preferentially stored in fat tissues and the outermost layers of the skin. The medical term for this yellow-orange skin discoloration caused by a high concentration of carotenoids is carotenemia.
Appearance, Safety, and Reversibility
The visual change is a yellow-orange discoloration of the skin, often more apparent in light-skinned people. Pigment deposition is not uniform but is most noticeable in areas where the outer layer of skin is thicker, such as the palms and soles of the feet. The color may also be prominent around the nose. Carotenemia does not cause the whites of the eyes (sclerae) to change color, which helps differentiate it from jaundice, a condition signaling liver issues. Carotenemia is benign and harmless.
Consuming 10 to 20 milligrams of beta-carotene daily—roughly equivalent to five medium carrots—for several weeks can lead to this discoloration. The condition is fully reversible once the intake of high-carotenoid foods and supplements is reduced. Since carotenoids are fat-soluble, the skin color will not fade immediately. The yellow-orange tint gradually disappears as the body eliminates the excess pigment, a process that can take several weeks to a few months.