Carotenemia: Orange skin due to intake of carotenoids

1. Carotene is derived from plants and it is the main precursor to vitamin A. Carotene is converted to vitamin A in the mucosal cells of the small intestine. Carotene is excreted in the stool, skin and urine. Carotenoids are a normal part of the diet and contribute to the normal skin color. They also help protect our skin from sunburn. By consuming excessive and long-term carotenoids through the diet (carrots, pumpkins, ...), a clear orange discoloration of the outer skin layer occurs. This benign and reversible condition is known in medical terms as carotenemia. The orange skin color is also reflected in some disorders. Apart from the orange coloration, no other signs of carotenemia itself are manifested. Usually it is enough to adjust the diet or to address the underlying problem so that the orange skin color disappears.

Causes: Due to excessive and prolonged intake of carotenoids

1. Disorders Conditions associated with carotenoderma include anorexia nervosa diabetes mellitus (diabetes) a congenital metabolic disorder a liver disease (an orange skin color due to the reduced conversion of carotenoids to retinol) nephrotic syndrome (kidney disease with too much protein in the urine) and other kidney disorders hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)

Risk factors of orange skin discoloration

1. Carotenemia is most common in vegetarians, and babies and young children. Babies and young children often consume large amounts of carrots through baby food. The condition is easier to detect in fair-skinned patients

Symptoms: Yellow to orange skin color

1. The signs are especially visible in patients with a light skin color. The patient has an orange discoloration of the palms. In patients with a dark skin color, the soles of the feet in particular are clearly colored orange. Since carotene is secreted by sebaceous glands and contains sweat, the yellow to orange color is especially noticeable in areas where people sweat. The yellow to orange pigmentation of the skin is further enhanced by artificial light. When an underlying condition is associated with the orange skin discoloration, additional signs of this disease may develop, such as itching, weight loss

Diagnosis and investigations

1. Physical and Diagnostic Exam

Complications of orange skin discoloration

1. Complications are rare with diet-induced carotenemia. Vitamin A (vitaminose A) poisoning does not occur even with the intake of very large amounts of carotene, because the conversion of carotene into vitamin A takes place slowly. Amenorrhoea (absent menstruation) may be associated with carotenemia. This occurs in patients who eat a pure or predominantly vegetarian diet without red meat. Dietary adjustments make it possible to lower the carotene level, which in turn normalizes the menstrual cycle.

2. Complications are rare with diet-induced carotenemia. Vitamin A (vitaminose A) poisoning does not occur even with the intake of very large amounts of carotene, because the conversion of carotene into vitamin A takes place slowly. Amenorrhea (absent menstruation) may be associated with carotenemia. This occurs in patients on a pure or predominantly vegetarian diet without red meat. Dietary adjustments make it possible to lower the carotene level, which in turn normalizes the menstrual cycle.