What supplements cause yellow skin? Unpacking Carotenemia and Beyond

November 19, 2025 •

3 min read

According to research, supplement misuse is a growing concern, with accidental overdose cases sometimes linked to side effects like skin discoloration. If you are taking vitamins and notice a change in your skin's color, it is crucial to know what supplements cause yellow skin and when to seek medical advice.

Quick Summary

Excessive intake of beta-carotene supplements causes a benign yellow-orange skin discoloration known as carotenemia. In contrast, high doses of preformed vitamin A can cause liver damage, potentially leading to more serious jaundice.

Key Points

Beta-Carotene is a common cause: High intake from supplements or foods can cause harmless yellow-orange skin discoloration called carotenemia.
Carotenemia is not Jaundice: The whites of the eyes (sclera) remain white with carotenemia, helping distinguish it from jaundice.
High Vitamin A is Dangerous: Excessive preformed Vitamin A intake can cause liver damage and potentially lead to serious jaundice.
Yellow Urine is not Yellow Skin: High doses of Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) cause bright yellow urine, a different and harmless effect.
B12 Deficiency can also cause yellow skin: A deficiency in Vitamin B12 can lead to anemia and subsequent jaundice.
Always check the sclera: If the whites of your eyes are yellow, seek medical attention immediately, as this indicates jaundice.
Consult a healthcare provider: If you are concerned about skin discoloration, it is always best to speak with a medical professional for a proper diagnosis.

Beta-Carotene: The Primary Culprit for Yellow Skin

Beta-carotene, a pigment in many fruits and vegetables, is a common ingredient in supplements as it is a precursor to Vitamin A. Consuming excessive amounts, whether from diet or supplements, can lead to its accumulation in the body, causing the skin to develop a harmless yellow-orange tint known as carotenemia. This discoloration is often most visible on the palms, soles, and face. Carotenemia is benign and resolves once beta-carotene intake is reduced. A key feature distinguishing it from jaundice is that the whites of the eyes remain white.

Why supplemental beta-carotene can be an issue

While dietary beta-carotene is generally safe, supplements can provide much higher concentrations than food sources. High-dose beta-carotene supplements may pose risks for certain individuals, such as smokers, potentially increasing cancer risk. It is generally recommended to get beta-carotene from whole foods.

High-Dose Vitamin A and Jaundice Risk

Unlike beta-carotene, high doses of preformed Vitamin A from supplements can be toxic to the liver, leading to hypervitaminosis A. This can cause liver damage, impairing its ability to process bilirubin. The resulting bilirubin buildup in the blood causes both the skin and the whites of the eyes to turn yellow, a condition called jaundice. Symptoms of Vitamin A toxicity are more severe than carotenemia and may include headaches, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, and potential nerve or organ damage.

Other Supplements and Skin Discoloration

While beta-carotene is a common cause of yellow skin, other supplements can be linked to skin color changes.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency: A deficiency can cause megaloblastic anemia, leading to increased bilirubin levels and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) Excess: High doses result in bright yellow urine, a harmless effect, as the body quickly excretes the excess vitamin.
Iron Overload: Severe iron overdose can, in rare instances, cause a gray or bronze skin discoloration, a sign of a medical emergency, not simple yellowing.

Differentiating Benign Carotenemia from Serious Jaundice

Distinguishing between harmless carotenemia and dangerous jaundice is vital. The color of the whites of your eyes (sclera) is the most important clue.


Feature	Carotenemia (from Beta-Carotene)	Jaundice (from Liver Issues, Vitamin A Toxicity, etc.)
Skin Color	Yellow-orange pigmentation, often concentrated on palms, soles, and nose.	Yellowish tinge on the skin, can be more generalized.
Eye Color (Sclera)	Remains white.	Turns yellow due to bilirubin accumulation.
Underlying Cause	Excessive intake of carotenoids from supplements or diet.	Underlying liver damage, disease, or severe toxicity.
Associated Symptoms	Generally harmless; few to no other symptoms.	Can be accompanied by serious symptoms like fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and darker urine.
Treatment	Reduce intake of carotene-rich foods/supplements; resolves on its own.	Requires medical diagnosis and treatment of the underlying cause.

What to Do If Your Skin Turns Yellow

If you notice yellow or orange skin discoloration:

Check Your Eyes: If the whites of your eyes are yellow, seek immediate medical help for potential jaundice.
Review Intake: If your eyes are clear, examine your recent diet and supplement use, especially beta-carotene sources.
Adjust Intake: Reduce beta-carotene intake. Discoloration from carotenemia should fade over weeks or months.
Consult a Professional: Speak with a healthcare provider to confirm the cause and rule out other issues.

Conclusion

While alarming, yellowing skin from supplements is often benign carotenemia due to excess beta-carotene. Checking the whites of your eyes is crucial: white sclera indicate carotenemia, while yellow sclera point to jaundice, a more serious condition potentially linked to liver issues from high-dose Vitamin A or B12 deficiency. Excess Vitamin B2 causes harmless yellow urine. Understanding these distinctions helps in reacting appropriately.

For more detailed information on vitamin toxicity and its effects, consult reliable sources such as the NIH's Office of Dietary Supplements. [https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminA-Consumer/]

Frequently Asked Questions

It is unlikely that standard multivitamin dosages will cause yellow skin. However, if a multivitamin contains a high concentration of beta-carotene, and is taken excessively, it could potentially lead to carotenemia. If you notice yellow skin, check the whites of your eyes and consider discussing your supplement intake with a doctor.

The most important indicator is the whites of your eyes (sclera). If they are yellow, it could be jaundice, which is serious and requires immediate medical attention. If only your skin is yellow and your sclera are white, it is likely benign carotenemia from excess beta-carotene.

The yellowing of the skin caused by carotenemia will gradually fade over several weeks to months after reducing or eliminating the source of excess beta-carotene. The duration depends on your metabolism and how much carotene was consumed.

Foods rich in beta-carotene include carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, mangoes, papayas, and dark leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale. Excessive consumption of these foods can also cause carotenemia.

For most people, beta-carotene from food is safe and recommended. However, high-dose supplements are not recommended for general use, especially for smokers or people with a history of asbestos exposure, as they have been linked to an increased risk of lung cancer.

Symptoms of Vitamin A toxicity (hypervitaminosis A) are more severe than carotenemia and can include severe headache, dizziness, nausea, blurred vision, hair loss, dry skin, fatigue, and potential liver damage leading to jaundice.

You should stop taking supplements known to cause yellowing (like beta-carotene) or potential toxicity (high-dose preformed vitamin A). However, do not stop taking other necessary supplements without consulting your healthcare provider.

No, excess Vitamin B12 does not cause yellow skin. A deficiency of Vitamin B12 can cause yellow skin, as it can lead to anemia and subsequent jaundice.