1. You Have Carotenemia
Crazy about carrots? Your daily diet of orange-hued veggies could be the reason your skin is turning orange.
“Carotenemia is a harmless condition in which the skin appears orange due to the high consumption of foods that contain high levels of carotene, a natural pigment,” Dr. Li says.
This happens when the surplus of beta-carotene in your blood gets deposited into the outer layer of your skin, the stratum corneum. Carotenemia typically appears first in the palms, soles, forehead, tip of the nose, and folds around the nose (nasolabial folds).
While your skin looks orange, the whites of your eyes don’t change, and “the mucous membranes of the mouth remain pink and healthy,” Li says.
One medium carrot contains about 4 milligrams (mg) of beta-carotene, but the following foods are high in beta-carotene as well:
- Green beans
- Asparagus
- Broccoli
- Cucumber
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Spinach
- Squash
- Mustard greens
- Pumpkins
- Kale
- Sweet potatoes
Even foods like butter, eggs, and milk can cause carotenemia when consumed in large-enough quantities.
On top of food, supplements or vitamins containing beta-carotene can also turn your skin orange, Li says.
How to Fix It
If your skin is turning orange from food, the solution is simple: “Cut down on eating foods containing beta-carotene, and the orange color will disappear,” Li says.
It may take some time, though. Once you adjust your diet, you could still have orange skin from carotenemia for a few months.
If the whites of your eyes or your tongue also appear orange or yellow, see a doctor right away. You could have jaundice, which can be a sign of serious conditions like liver failure or certain cancers. Jaundice usually shows up as a yellow hue, but it can sometimes look yellow orange.
2. You’re Taking Certain Medications
Your medicine cabinet may hold the answer to your sudden shift in skin color.
“Some people react to certain medications such that their skin pigment changes and sometimes appears orange,” Li says.
Some medicines can create a chemical reaction that results in skin discoloration, while other drugs can directly affect your skin’s natural pigments.
On top of that, many types of drugs and other substances — from those ingested to those applied topically — can have this orangey effect. Some examples include:
- Acriflavine This topical antiseptic has several potential medical uses.
- Canthaxanthin This pigment found in nature is used in food colorings, tanning pills, and some medicines.
- Picric Acid This has been used historically as a topical treatment for burns.
- Quinacrine Also known as mepacrine, it has been used as an antimalarial and to treat lupus and giardiasis.
- Saffron This yellow spice is used as a natural remedy for a number of ailments.
How to Fix It
If you think your medication is turning your skin orange, speak with your doctor. They may change your dose or prescribe you a different drug.
“Stopping the medication (under medical guidance) will usually solve the skin color change,” Li says.
3. You’ve Been Using Self-Tanner
Anyone who’s ever had a bad spray tan can tell you that some self-tanning products can turn you into a tangerine. (Hello, orange hands.)
Here’s why: “Indoor self-tanning lotions contain a chemical called dihydroxyacetone (DHA) that is orange-colored and stains your skin to resemble a suntan,” Li says. “Using these tanning lotions in excess can make your skin look orange.”
How to Fix It
With self-tanners, less is more. If you were a little heavy-handed when applying lotion and now resemble a carrot, here’s the best way to get rid of the excess DHA: “Rub baby oil over your skin, let it saturate for a few minutes, then rinse it off in the shower, rubbing with a washcloth,” Li says.
4. You’ve Just Had Surgery
If you’ve just had a surgical procedure and your skin in that area appears apricot in color, it’s not your imagination.
While this sudden skin discoloration may be alarming at first glance, it’s usually harmless and has a simple explanation.
“Most likely the orange-brown color on your skin after surgery is due to Betadine, an antiseptic liquid that’s used to clean and prep the skin area the surgeon will be cutting through,” Li says.
How to Fix It
In this case, it’s easy to remove the orange color from the surface of your skin. “Washing with soap and water will remove leftover Betadine,” Li says.
Of course, follow your doctor’s instructions about when and how to clean near your incision site.
5. You Have Hypothyroidism
Thyroid issues can also trigger a tawny tint in your skin. For instance, hypothyroidism (when the thyroid doesn’t produce enough thyroid hormone) can create a buildup of carotene in your blood, Li says.
And, as we know, an excess of beta-carotene can turn your skin orange.
Other symptoms of hypothyroidism can include fatigue; numbness and tingling in the hands; constipation; weight gain; muscle soreness and weakness; depression; and drooping eyelids or puffiness around the eyes.
How to Fix It
If you’re having any of the above symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor to get checked out.
Hypothyroidism is usually managed with medication.
“Proper treatment of the thyroid should reverse the orange skin tone,” Li says.
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