HealthMap

Nutrient Excess and Skin Coloration

• Primary Cause: Excessive intake of beta-carotene is the primary nutritional factor responsible for yellow-orange skin pigmentation.
• Condition Name: This harmless condition is medically known as carotenodermia.
• Common Sources:
• High consumption of carrots
• Sweet potatoes
• Pumpkin
• Other vegetables and fruits rich in carotenoids
• Metabolic Factors:
• The yellow-orange pigment accumulates in the outermost layer of the skin (stratum corneum).
• Individuals with conditions like hypothyroidism, diabetes, or liver dysfunction may convert beta-carotene to vitamin A less efficiently, making them more prone to carotenodermia even with moderate intake.
• Differential Diagnosis: Unlike jaundice, carotenodermia does not cause yellowing of the sclera (the whites of the eyes).