Which Vitamin Turns You Yellow? Understanding Carotenemia

December 25, 2025 •

3 min read

Carotenemia, the yellowing of skin from excessive beta-carotene intake, is a well-documented and harmless condition often mistaken for more serious ailments. While many people associate yellow skin with liver problems, the dietary cause is benign and easily remedied.

Quick Summary

Excessive intake of beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, can cause yellow-orange skin discoloration known as carotenemia. This benign condition is commonly caused by diets rich in orange and green produce and differs from jaundice, which affects the whites of the eyes.

Key Points

Beta-Carotene is the Cause: The pigment responsible for yellow-orange skin is beta-carotene, a precursor to vitamin A, not vitamin A itself.
Carotenemia is Harmless: The resulting skin discoloration, called carotenemia, is a benign and non-toxic condition.
Distinguish from Jaundice: Unlike jaundice, carotenemia does not affect the whites of the eyes (sclera), which is the key differentiator.
Caused by Excess Intake: Carotenemia is most commonly caused by excessive consumption of foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkins.
Dietary Adjustment is Treatment: Reducing the intake of high-carotene foods is the primary and effective treatment, with discoloration fading over several weeks to months.
Supplements Carry Risks: High-dose beta-carotene supplements, unlike food sources, have been linked to increased lung cancer risk in smokers and should be used with caution.

What Causes Your Skin to Turn Yellow?

The yellowing of skin is most commonly associated with jaundice, a serious medical condition that indicates liver disease. However, a far more common and harmless cause is carotenemia, a condition resulting from an overabundance of beta-carotene in the bloodstream. Beta-carotene is a plant pigment, or carotenoid, found in many fruits and vegetables that the body can convert into vitamin A.

Beta-Carotene: The Culprit Behind Carotenemia

Beta-carotene is responsible for the bright yellow and orange colors seen in many plant-based foods. When consumed in high quantities, the body stores the excess beta-carotene in the outermost layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, and in the body's fat stores. This deposition is what causes the visible yellow or orange tint to the skin. Unlike preformed vitamin A, consuming too much beta-carotene is not toxic because the body regulates its conversion into vitamin A.

Foods Rich in Beta-Carotene

A number of foods are particularly high in beta-carotene and are common culprits for causing carotenemia, especially with long-term, high consumption. These include carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, pumpkin, spinach and kale, apricots, cantaloupe, red and yellow bell peppers, broccoli, and mangoes. Pureed foods, like those for infants, can increase bioavailability, leading to more frequent carotenemia in babies. Eating these foods with fat can also improve absorption.

Carotenemia vs. Jaundice: A Crucial Comparison

It is vital to distinguish between carotenemia and jaundice, as one is a benign cosmetic effect and the other is a symptom of a potentially serious health problem. The primary diagnostic difference is the coloration of the sclera, or the whites of the eyes.


Feature	Carotenemia	Jaundice
Sclera (Whites of Eyes)	Not affected; remain white	Affected; turn yellow
Skin Color	Yellow-orange, often most prominent on palms, soles, and face	Yellow, affecting the entire body, including the whites of the eyes
Cause	Excessive intake of beta-carotene rich foods or supplements	High bilirubin levels due to liver disease, bile duct issues, or other medical conditions
Associated Symptoms	Generally asymptomatic, except for the color change	May be accompanied by other symptoms like fever, fatigue, malaise, itching, nausea, or abdominal pain
Onset	Gradual, appearing after weeks or months of high intake	Can be rapid, depending on the underlying cause

Is Carotenemia Dangerous?

For most individuals, dietary carotenemia is harmless with no negative health effects. The body limits beta-carotene conversion to vitamin A, preventing the toxicity associated with excess preformed vitamin A. The main consequence is only the cosmetic skin change.

However, high-dose beta-carotene supplements have been linked to increased lung cancer risk in smokers and former smokers, unlike beta-carotene from food. Smokers considering beta-carotene supplements should consult a healthcare provider. There is no official upper limit for dietary beta-carotene from food.

What if the Cause Isn't Diet?

While diet is the most common cause, carotenemia can rarely be linked to underlying health issues. These include hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, liver and kidney disease, and anorexia nervosa. If you have yellow-orange skin and aren't eating excessive carotene-rich foods, consult a doctor to rule out these less common conditions.

How to Treat and Manage Carotenemia

Treating dietary carotenemia involves reducing your intake of beta-carotene rich foods.

Steps for management:

Reduce Carotene Intake: Decrease consumption of foods like carrots and sweet potatoes. A dietitian can assist with a balanced plan.
Be Patient: Discoloration fades gradually over weeks or months as the body processes excess carotene.
Ensure a Balanced Diet: Maintain a healthy, varied diet to get essential nutrients while limiting high-carotene foods.

For more on vitamin A and carotenoids, visit the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements website.

Conclusion

In conclusion, beta-carotene, a vitamin precursor, causes the yellow skin of carotenemia. This benign condition primarily results from diets high in orange and dark green vegetables, though rare cases link to other health issues. Carotenemia differs from jaundice as it doesn't affect the whites of the eyes. Dietary adjustments restore skin color over time and typically pose no serious health risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, eating too many carrots can cause your skin to turn yellow or orange. Carrots are very high in beta-carotene, and excessive consumption leads to the benign condition known as carotenemia.

The main difference is the whites of the eyes (sclera). In carotenemia, the sclera remain white, while in jaundice, the sclera turn yellow due to a buildup of bilirubin.

Once you reduce your intake of beta-carotene, the skin discoloration will gradually fade. It can take several weeks to a few months for your normal skin color to return, as the pigment is stored in fat.

No, while excessive preformed vitamin A can be toxic, it does not typically cause the yellow skin associated with carotenemia. The discoloration is specific to high intake of beta-carotene.

Foods high in beta-carotene include carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, cantaloupe, apricots, mangoes, and dark leafy green vegetables like spinach and kale.

Yes, although it is less common, conditions such as hypothyroidism, diabetes mellitus, liver disease, and anorexia nervosa can be associated with carotenemia.

No, carotenemia is harmless in infants and babies and resolves on its own by adjusting their diet. It is often seen in babies eating large amounts of pureed carrots or squash.