Understanding the Symptoms of High Carotene Levels

November 9, 2025 •

2 min read

According to the National Institutes of Health, while carotenemia is harmless, it can be confused with jaundice. This condition, which results from high carotene levels, primarily manifests as a harmless yellow-orange skin discoloration.

Quick Summary

The most common symptom of high carotene levels is a benign yellow-orange discoloration of the skin, particularly on the palms and soles. This condition, known as carotenemia, typically results from excessive dietary intake of carotene-rich foods. The whites of the eyes remain unaffected, distinguishing it from more serious medical conditions like jaundice.

Key Points

Yellow-Orange Skin: The most prominent symptom is a harmless yellow-orange tint to the skin, a condition known as carotenoderma.
Palms and Soles: Discoloration is most visible on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and nasolabial folds.
Sclerae Are Spared: A key diagnostic feature is that the whites of the eyes remain unaffected, distinguishing it from jaundice.
Excessive Diet or Medical Issues: High carotene levels most often result from overconsumption of carotene-rich foods, but can also indicate underlying medical conditions like hypothyroidism or diabetes.
Benign Condition: In most cases, carotenemia is harmless and resolves once dietary intake of carotene is moderated.
Temporary Effect: The skin pigmentation is temporary and will gradually fade after reducing carotene consumption.

Identifying the Main Symptom: Carotenoderma

The most noticeable and common symptom of high carotene levels, a condition called carotenemia, is a yellow-orange skin pigmentation known as carotenoderma. This discoloration occurs because carotene is a fat-soluble pigment that gets deposited in the outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum. The pigmentation is typically most prominent in areas with thicker skin or more sweat glands.

Key areas affected by carotenoderma

Palms and soles: The yellowing is most apparent on the hands and feet due to the thickness of the skin in these areas.
Nasolabial folds: The skin around the nose and mouth often shows a distinct yellowish tint.
Forehead and nose tip: Other areas of the face may also show some discoloration.

One of the most important aspects of diagnosing diet-induced carotenemia is confirming that the sclerae (the whites of the eyes) are spared. This feature is the primary way to differentiate carotenemia from jaundice, a more serious condition associated with liver problems that causes the whites of the eyes to turn yellow.

Causes of Elevated Carotene Levels

While excessive consumption of carotene-rich foods is the most frequent cause, high carotene levels can also be linked to other health conditions. Understanding the cause is key to proper management.

Primary (Dietary) Causes

Diet-induced carotenemia occurs from the prolonged, excessive intake of carotene. It is particularly common in infants and young children, but can affect adults as well.

Foods particularly high in carotene include orange and yellow fruits and vegetables, dark leafy greens, eggs, butter, and cow's milk.

Secondary (Metabolic) Causes

In some cases, carotenemia is caused by an underlying medical condition affecting carotene metabolism or excretion. These include hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, liver and kidney disease, and anorexia nervosa.

Comparing Carotenemia with Jaundice

Misdiagnosis between carotenemia and jaundice is common. The table below outlines key differences:


Feature	Carotenemia (High Carotene)	Jaundice (High Bilirubin)
Skin Color	Yellow-orange, often most noticeable on the palms and soles.	Yellowing of the skin.
Sclera (Whites of Eyes)	Unaffected, remain white.	Yellowed due to elevated bilirubin.
Cause	Excessive dietary intake of carotene or metabolic issues affecting its breakdown.	Buildup of bilirubin in the blood due to liver disease, bile duct obstruction, or other medical issues.
Prognosis	Benign and reversible by reducing carotene intake.	Can indicate a serious underlying medical problem.
Blood Tests	Show elevated serum carotene levels with normal liver function.	Show elevated bilirubin levels and often abnormal liver function tests.

Management and Outcome

Diet-induced carotenemia is harmless and reversible. Reducing intake of carotene-rich foods will cause the discoloration to fade over several weeks to months. If linked to underlying medical issues, treating that condition is necessary.

Conclusion

Symptoms of high carotene levels (carotenemia) are typically benign and manageable, primarily presenting as yellow-orange skin that spares the whites of the eyes. Most cases result from overconsumption of carotene-rich foods, resolving with dietary adjustments. If the condition persists or other symptoms appear, consult a healthcare provider to rule out underlying metabolic disorders.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, high carotene levels from a diet rich in carotene are not dangerous. The resulting skin discoloration, known as carotenemia, is benign and reversible.

The primary treatment for high carotene levels is reducing the intake of carotene-rich foods, such as carrots, sweet potatoes, and spinach. The skin discoloration will resolve on its own over a period of weeks to months.

The main distinguishing sign is the color of the sclerae (the whites of the eyes). With carotenemia, the sclerae remain white, whereas with jaundice, they turn yellow.

Excessive intake of orange and yellow fruits and vegetables like carrots, pumpkins, and mangoes can lead to high carotene levels. Dark leafy greens such as spinach and kale can also be a significant source.

After reducing the intake of carotene-rich foods, the skin discoloration of carotenemia typically fades over several weeks to months.

Yes, while diet is the most common cause, high carotene levels can also be associated with underlying medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and liver disease.

Yes, taking high doses of beta-carotene supplements can be harmful, particularly for smokers or individuals with a history of asbestos exposure, as it may increase the risk of certain cancers.