Foods That Can Cause Your Skin to Change Color

November 18, 2025 •

4 min read

Carotenemia, a harmless condition resulting in yellow-orange skin, is caused by consuming excessive amounts of carotenoid-rich fruits and vegetables, and is often reported in young children and vegetarians. Understanding what foods can cause your skin to change color is crucial for distinguishing between a benign dietary effect and more serious health issues like jaundice.

Quick Summary

Certain foods, especially those high in carotenoids and lycopene, can cause a harmless yellow-orange tint to the skin. Other, rarer cases of skin discoloration involve toxic heavy metal accumulation from dietary supplements. The appearance of skin color change is a result of pigment deposition in the outermost layers of the skin, and is reversible by altering dietary intake.

Key Points

Carotenoids cause orange skin: High intake of beta-carotene from carrots, sweet potatoes, and leafy greens can lead to a benign yellow-orange discoloration called carotenemia.
Lycopene creates a deep orange hue: Overconsumption of tomatoes and other lycopene-rich foods can cause lycopenemia, a noticeable deep orange skin tint.
Tanning pills can cause color change: High-dose canthaxanthin, historically used in tanning pills, can cause a golden-orange skin hue and potential eye complications.
Heavy metals cause irreversible color change: Argyria (silver) and chrysiasis (gold) cause permanent blue-gray skin discoloration and are serious conditions, not dietary quirks.
Dietary discoloration is reversible: The skin discoloration from carotenoids and lycopene will fade gradually as intake of these foods is moderated.
Not to be confused with jaundice: In dietary discoloration, the whites of the eyes (sclera) are unaffected, which is the opposite of jaundice.
Seek medical advice for new symptoms: Any unexplained change in skin color should be evaluated by a healthcare professional to rule out more serious medical conditions.

Carotenoids: The Most Common Culprit for Skin Discoloration

Carotenoids are the most common reason for diet-induced skin color changes, leading to a condition known as carotenemia. These naturally occurring pigments are responsible for the vibrant yellow, orange, and red hues in many plants and are also found in some animal products. When consumed in excess over a prolonged period, these fat-soluble pigments accumulate in the outermost layer of the skin (stratum corneum) and fatty tissues, resulting in a yellow-orange coloration. It is particularly noticeable on the palms, soles, and nasolabial folds. Importantly, the whites of the eyes (sclera) are unaffected, which is a key way to differentiate carotenemia from jaundice.

Foods High in Beta-Carotene

Carrots: The classic and most well-known cause of carotenemia due to its high beta-carotene content.
Sweet Potatoes and Squash: These starchy vegetables are packed with beta-carotene, leading to discoloration if consumed in large quantities.
Pumpkin: A festive favorite that is another rich source of carotenoids.
Dark Green Leafy Vegetables: While the green chlorophyll masks the orange pigment, vegetables like spinach and kale are surprisingly high in carotenes.
Certain Fruits: Mangoes, apricots, and papaya also contribute to carotene levels.

Lycopene: The Red-Orange Pigment

Similar to carotenemia, excessive intake of lycopene, another type of carotenoid, can lead to a condition called lycopenemia. This causes a distinct orange discoloration of the skin, often described as a deeper orange than carotenemia. Lycopene is found in red fruits and vegetables, and its accumulation in the skin is also a temporary, harmless effect of diet.

Foods High in Lycopene

Tomatoes and Tomato Products: From fresh tomatoes to juice, sauce, and paste, these are the most significant source of dietary lycopene.
Watermelon: This popular fruit contains high levels of lycopene.
Grapefruit: Particularly pink and red grapefruit, are a source of this pigment.
Red Papaya and Rosehips: Other fruits that contain substantial amounts of lycopene.

Canthaxanthin: The Artificial Tanner

Less common today but historically a cause of skin discoloration is canthaxanthin. This is a carotenoid that was used in some oral 'tanning pills' to produce a golden-orange skin tone. While effective for changing skin color, long-term use at high doses was associated with canthaxanthin-induced retinopathy, where crystals could deposit in the retina. Although deposits were typically reversible, the FDA has not approved these 'tanning pills' for sale in the US, considering them adulterated cosmetics.

Heavy Metals: The Non-Dietary Causes

While not typically from food, it's important to mention that heavy metals can also cause skin discoloration, often through contaminated supplements or specific medications. These conditions, such as argyria (from silver) and chrysiasis (from gold), are rare and irreversible.

Comparison Table: Dietary vs. Heavy Metal Skin Discoloration


Feature	Carotenemia/Lycopenemia (Dietary)	Argyria/Chrysiasis (Heavy Metal)
Color	Yellow-orange to deep orange	Bluish-gray, gray-purple
Cause	Excessive intake of carotenoid/lycopene-rich foods	Ingestion of silver or gold salts/supplements
Reversibility	Reversible by reducing intake	Permanent and irreversible
Sclera (Eyes)	Unaffected (spared)	Can be affected in some cases
Primary Areas	Palms, soles, nasolabial folds	Sun-exposed areas
Underlying Condition	Benign dietary effect	Toxicity from metal accumulation

Managing and Reversing Dietary Discoloration

For dietary-induced skin color changes, the solution is straightforward: reduce your intake of the offending food. Since carotenoids are fat-soluble, it takes time for the body to eliminate the excess pigment, so the discoloration will fade gradually over several weeks or months. It's not necessary to completely eliminate these nutrient-rich foods, but rather to moderate intake. For example, a person with carotenemia from eating multiple pounds of carrots per week may simply need to cut back to a more balanced consumption.

It is always wise to consult a healthcare provider if you notice a skin color change to rule out more serious medical conditions. Jaundice, for instance, also causes yellow skin but is accompanied by yellowing of the sclera and indicates a problem with the liver or bile ducts. A dietary history is a crucial part of the diagnostic process.

Conclusion

While alarming, skin color changes caused by foods are most often a harmless and temporary side effect of consuming too many carotenoids or lycopene. The distinct yellow-orange hue of carotenemia and lycopenemia is easily reversible by adjusting your diet. The key is moderation. On the other hand, a more permanent and serious gray or blue discoloration could point to heavy metal accumulation, highlighting the danger of unproven supplements. Always maintain a balanced diet and consult a medical professional for persistent or concerning changes in your skin's appearance to ensure it is not a symptom of an underlying medical issue, as documented by sources like DermNet NZ.

Foods and Skin Discoloration: Summary of Effects

Carotenemia

Orange/Yellow: Caused by high intake of carotenoids (carrots, sweet potatoes).
Sclera Spared: Unlike jaundice, the whites of the eyes remain unaffected.
Palms & Soles: Discoloration is most prominent in areas with thicker skin.

Lycopenemia

Orange Tint: Results from consuming large amounts of lycopene-rich foods like tomatoes.
Reversible: Fades completely once consumption is reduced.

Canthaxanthin Overload

Golden-Orange: Historically from 'tanning pills,' leads to skin discoloration.
Retinopathy Risk: High doses can cause crystal deposits in the retina.

Argyria (Heavy Metal)

Blue/Gray Skin: Caused by silver ingestion, often from colloidal silver supplements.
Irreversible: This condition is permanent once it occurs.

Chrysiasis (Heavy Metal)

Grayish-Purple: Caused by gold deposits, typically from historical arthritis treatments.
Permanent: Like argyria, this discoloration does not reverse.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, consuming an excessive amount of carotene-rich foods like carrots can cause a benign condition called carotenemia, which gives the skin a yellow-orange hue.

The key difference is the eyes. With carotenemia, the whites of the eyes (sclera) remain white, while jaundice causes them to turn yellow.

Foods rich in carotenoids and lycopene are the most common culprits. This includes carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, mangoes, spinach, and tomatoes.

No, the discoloration from carotenoids and lycopene is temporary. The skin will return to its normal color several weeks to months after the excessive intake is reduced.

Argyria is a serious, irreversible condition caused by the accumulation of silver in the body, which turns the skin bluish-gray. It is not caused by food but often by colloidal silver supplements.

Yes, some historical and unapproved 'tanning pills' containing high doses of canthaxanthin can cause a golden-orange skin color by depositing the pigment under the skin. However, this practice is unsafe and can lead to eye damage.

Consult a healthcare provider. While a dietary cause is common, it's essential to rule out other medical conditions like liver disease or heavy metal toxicity, which can also affect skin color.