The skin color can change due to multiple factors, such as the incidence of sunlight or the intake of certain foods. In this case, carotenemia is a disorder that alters the color of the skin, and this usually occurs in both adults and babies.
Carotenemia is characterized by the fact that the skin takes on a particular orange color in different body parts, such as the face, torso, hands, and feet. It is important to note that it is a temporary coloring without significant relevance. This change can be confused with other clinical conditions capable of producing changes in skin color, such as jaundice.
We invite you to read the following article by FastlyHeal, where you will clear up any doubts regarding carotenemia: what it is, symptoms, causes, and treatment of this alteration.
Table of Contents
What is carotenemia
Carotenemia is the change in skin coloring product to the consumption of certain foods rich in carotene, which are responsible for giving the orange color to some vegetables or fruit. Beta-carotene is a pigment with antioxidant properties used by the body to produce vitamin A.
This pigment is present in fruits :
- Oranges
- Tangerines
- Papaya.
- Strawberries.
- Apricot.
- Peach.
- You have to
- Blueberries
- Sandias.
- Raspberries
Among the vegetables are :
- Carrots,
- Pumpkins,
- Red peppers.
- Tomato.
- Boniato.
- Spinach.
- Broccoli
- Chard.
All these foods are rich in beta-carotene, and skin pigmentation occurs due to frequent or excessive consumption of the previously mentioned foods, as well as the consumption of dietary supplements rich in beta-carotene. This color change is temporary and does not damage the body.
Symptoms of Carotenemia
The symptoms of carotenemia appear due to excess carotene in the blood. The organs in charge of its metabolism are the gastrointestinal tract, the intestinal mucosa, and the liver.
The main symptom that becomes evident is the yellow coloration in:
- Palms of the hands.
- Soles of the feet.
- Forehead, in the nasolabial folds.
- Nose and other parts of the body.
It is important to note that the sclera (white layer of the eye) remains white and the gums pink with carotenemia. This makes the difference between liver or gallbladder disease and carotenemia.
The discoloration of fluids such as sweat, urine, and human fat is evidenced. This alteration is temporary and is reversed quickly and easily without complications.
Causes of carotenemia
One of the causes that give rise to carotenemia is hypothyroidism. This is due to decreased function of the thyroid gland. In patients suffering from this disease, beta-carotene levels tend to increase due to slow metabolism. Therefore, the body takes much longer to transform carotenes into vitamin A and hence the yellow or orange coloration of the skin.
In addition to hypothyroid patients, sick people with diabetes can suffer due to high blood glucose levels; the same situation can happen to those with liver or kidney disease.
In cases where this alteration is the product of a disease, it is essential to see specialists avoid complications.
Treatment of carotenemia
Once the diagnosis of carotenemia has been made, the next step is to reduce the consumption of foods rich in beta-carotene or nutritional supplements. If they are being consumed in this way, the skin color will return to normal. When the existence of a pathology that triggers skin pigmentation is suspected, the request for complementary tests such as blood samples or abdominal ultrasounds will begin to reach the definitive diagnosis for the benefit of the patient’s health.
Hence the importance of carotenemia being managed by doctors; they will indicate the therapy to follow in case any complication arises.
The main recommendation when suffering from carotenemia is to reduce or eliminate the consumption of foods rich in beta-carotene or nutritional supplements that contain it until the skin returns to its standard color; This is a sign that the substance is not being metabolized and is accumulating in the blood. In this case, you should go to the doctor; he will be the one to request the necessary tests to obtain the precise diagnosis and the cause of the skin coloration.
This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
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I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.