Calluses (hyperkeratosis) are patches of thickened skin that develop as a protective response to repeated pressure or friction, most commonly on the hands and feet. While calluses are normal, an orange or yellowish hue can be surprising. This discoloration is a harmless phenomenon indicating a temporary imbalance, not a serious health problem. The cause is directly related to what you are eating and how your body processes certain pigments.
Carotene Deposition: The Biological Mechanism
The orange coloration is called carotenoderma, resulting from elevated carotenoid pigments, such as beta-carotene, circulating in the bloodstream. These lipophilic, or fat-soluble, plant compounds are deposited into the outer layer of the skin, creating the visible hue. Carotenoids are naturally present in the skin, but an overabundance from the diet causes them to accumulate.
The discoloration is most noticeable where the outermost skin layer, the stratum corneum, is thickest, such as the palms and soles. This thick skin layer contains a high concentration of lipids, which readily absorb and retain the fat-soluble carotene pigment. The pigment is slow to clear because thick skin has a slower rate of cell turnover compared to thinner skin.
The skin color change lags behind dietary intake by several weeks, as the pigment must first build up in the blood. Carotenoderma is considered benign and is not associated with disease or toxicity. The body has a limited capacity to convert beta-carotene into Vitamin A, preventing toxicity even with high dietary intake.
Identifying High-Carotene Foods in Your Diet
The source of the excess pigment is a diet rich in fruits and vegetables containing carotenoids. These pigments give many plants their vibrant red, yellow, and orange coloring. The most common culprits are foods with the highest concentration of beta-carotene, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin.
Winter squash varieties, including butternut squash, are particularly high in this pigment. Dark leafy green vegetables, like spinach and kale, also contain substantial amounts of carotenoids, though chlorophyll masks the orange color in the plant. Consuming a large volume of these items, or drinking concentrated juices, can quickly elevate carotene levels in the blood.
Individual metabolic differences affect how quickly the pigment accumulates or converts to Vitamin A. For example, certain medical conditions may cause individuals to process carotene less efficiently, leading to faster accumulation. However, the discoloration is usually a result of consistent overconsumption. Reducing the intake of high-carotenoid foods is the most direct way to resolve the discoloration.
When Orange Calluses Require Medical Attention
Management for diet-induced carotenoderma involves reducing high-carotenoid food intake, allowing the body time to naturally clear the stored pigment. The orange color fades gradually as skin cells are shed, a process that takes several weeks to a few months. No medical treatment is required for this benign condition.
It is important to distinguish carotenoderma from jaundice, which is a yellowing of the skin caused by bilirubin accumulation, indicating a potential liver or gallbladder issue. A reliable way to tell the difference is by looking at the sclera, or the whites of the eyes. Jaundice causes the sclera to turn yellow, while carotenoderma specifically spares the eyes because they lack the thick stratum corneum layer where carotene is deposited.
Seek medical attention if the yellowing is generalized and includes the whites of your eyes, or if it is accompanied by other physical symptoms. Signs like fatigue, abdominal pain, fever, or changes in stool color suggest a serious underlying condition like liver disease. A doctor can perform blood tests to measure carotene and bilirubin levels to confirm the cause. Persistent carotenemia that does not resolve after dietary changes may also warrant investigation to rule out rare conditions such as hypothyroidism or diabetes mellitus.