Can You Really Get Orange Skin from Eating Too Many Carrots?

True or False: You can get orange skin from carrots.

True! Your skin can actually turn an orange-yellowish color. It happens when you eat A LOT of carrots (or any beta-carotene rich vegetable, for that matter). Research from the University of California, Santa Barbara shows that eating an abundance of carrots could turn your skin an orange yellowish color.

It’s a phenomenon called carotenemia. That’s right—it’s a real condition!

Learn how to wash carrots and other vegetables the right way.

What is carotenemia?

It’s a coloring of the skin that’s most noticeable on the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. It happens when you overeat beta-carotene rich foods like carrots, sweet potatoes or pumpkins. The condition is most common in infants, and usually appears when they start to eat “real food.” (We’re not too surprised since carrots are classic baby food.) Carotenemia may sound dangerous, but it’s mostly harmless.

For adults, though, even if you eat an entire pan of roasted carrots that likely won’t be enough to turn your skin orange. You’d have to eat a bunch of carrots (like, three large carrots a day, according to Columbia University) to develop carotenemia. It should be noted that beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A in your body, so eating carrots is good for your overall health.

(Psst! Carrots weren’t always orange; they used to be white! Why are carrots orange today? Through selective breeding, farmers started growing more and more orange carrots to distinguish them from wild ones.)

You can peel carrots without pinching your fingers—here’s how.

So, what can you do if this actually happens?

It’s pretty simple, really. Just switch to a lower carotene diet. That’s it! Just reduce your intake of carrots and other orange and yellow vegetables. It can take months for your skin to return to its usual shade, but it will usually change back. (It’s not a Violet Beauregarde situation.)

For most of us, eating healthy amounts of orange and yellow vegetables will provide vital nutrients for our eyes, skin and hair. Here’s how to make perfect roasted vegetables!

Our Most Delicious Carrot Recipes

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Marmalade Candied Carrots

My favorite way to make baby carrots is to steam them, then drizzle with an orangey glaze that makes them candy-sweet. —Heather Clemmons, Supply, North Carolina

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Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

A pleasingly moist cake, this treat is the one I requested that my mom make each year for my birthday. It's dotted with sweet carrots and a hint of cinnamon. The fluffy buttery frosting is scrumptious with chopped walnuts stirred in. One piece of this cake is never enough—better than all the other carrot cakes I've tried!—Kim Orr, West Grove, Pennsylvania

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Roasted Autumn Vegetable Soup

Roasting sweet potatoes, carrots and parsnips brings out their best features. Blend them, and you have a warm, healthy soup for a cool fall night. —Stephanie Flaming, Woodland, California

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Herb-Buttered Baby Carrots

The herb butter can be used for everything from vegetables to roast chicken, turkey, game hens—let your imagination be your guide.—Sandra Corey, Caldwell, Idaho

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Pina Colada Carrot Salad

This carrot salad with pina colada yogurt, green grapes and macadamia nuts has a tropical theme. Just mix and chill out. —Emily Tyra, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Sweet Potato & Carrot Casserole

This tangy and sweet casserole is full of flavor. We've served it at many celebrations over the years and it's always been a bit hit! —Gloria Mezikofsky, Wakefield, Massachusetts

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Tropical Carrot Cake

I look forward to August because our family reunion means fun and great food, like this classic cake with the special flair it gets from pineapple. My great-aunt gave me this recipe, and I always make it for the reunion. —Victoria Casey, Enterprise, Oregon

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Strawberry-Carrot Smoothies

My children resist veggies, but they love smoothies. This smoothie packs in lots of good-for-you fruits and veggies, but to my kids, it's just a super delicious breakfast. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

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Blue Ribbon Carrot Cake Cookies

I created this recipe because I just love carrot cake. I wanted something that I could take with me anywhere and not need a fork. I entered my recipe in the Los Angeles County Fair and the cookies not only won first place, but were also named Best of Division. —Marina Castle, Canyon Country, California

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Giardiniera

Sweet and tangy, this Italian condiment is packed with peppers, cauliflower, carrots and other crisp-tender veggies. It’s perfect to offer alongside pickles or olives on a relish tray. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Coconut Carrot Muffins

If you like carrot cake, you'll probably like these muffins, too. They make a neat treat for an Easter get-together! I use canned carrots to save some extra time in the kitchen. —Brittany Carrington, Tehachapi, California

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Marmalade-Glazed Carrots

This side dish is ideal when you’d like to serve your vegetables in a different way for a special dinner. Cinnamon and nutmeg season baby carrots that are simmered with orange marmalade and brown sugar. —Barb Rudyk, Vermilion, Alberta

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Roasted Carrots & Fennel

This addictive vegetable combo is a fresh take on one of my mother's standard wintertime dishes. I usually add more carrots—as many as the pans will hold. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia

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Fennel Carrot Soup

This soup is perfect as a first course or a special-occasion dinner. It gets its delicious flavor from toasted fennel seeds—a pleasant complement to the carrots, apple and sweet potato. —Marlene Bursey, Waverly, Nova Scotia

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Creamy Carrot Casserole

My mom and I developed this recipe to see if there was a carrot dish that even people who don't care for carrots would enjoy. So far, I haven't met anyone who hasn't liked this casserole. —Laurie Heward, Fillmore, Utah

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Carrot Fruitcake

Even those who don't care for fruitcake love this special holiday dessert. It's a fun way to "dress up" that old favorite, carrot cake. Try it—your friends and family will agree. —Ann Parden, Chunchula, Alabama

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Roasted Squash, Carrots & Walnuts

After the turkey’s done, I dial up the oven temp and roast carrots and squash for this yummy side. That frees me up to start the gravy. —Lily Julow, Lawrenceville, Georgia

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Carrot Cake with Pecan Frosting

My husband constantly requests this homey, old-fashioned version of carrot cake. The frosting is still tasty even without the pecans. —Adrian Badon, Denham Springs, Louisiana

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Orange-Glazed Carrots, Onions & Radishes

Carrots and radishes give color and crunch to this sweet, spicy side. We never have leftovers. If you make it ahead, reheat it and add the walnuts just before serving. —Thomas Faglon, Somerset, New Jersey

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Carrot Cake Shortbread

I really love carrot cake and wanted to make a cookie that had the same flavors, and these comforting cookies are are it! Cinnamon, maple and vanilla make them perfect for the holidays. —Elisabeth Larsen, Pleasant Grove, Utah

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Creamy Curried Carrot Soup

This pretty pureed soup is perfect for a luncheon. It has wonderful flavor sparked by curry, herbs and, of course, the colorful carrots.—Betsy Hedeman, Timonium, Maryland

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Thyme-Roasted Carrots

Cutting the carrots lengthwise makes this dish look extra pretty. For a little more elegance and color, garnish with sprigs of fresh thyme or parsley. —Deirdre Cox, Kansas City, Missouri

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Carrot Puree

Carrots pair beautifully with anything from roasted meat to grilled fish. Cook the carrots fully to ensure a velvety smooth puree. —Gina Myers, Spokane, Washington

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Carrot Blueberry Cupcakes

Carrots, blueberries, pineapple and zucchini make an interesting and delicious combination in these unique little treats.—Patricia Kile, Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.

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Brown Sugar-Glazed Baby Carrots

When things get hectic, these delicious glazed carrots are my "rescue me" side dish because they cook while I'm preparing other parts of the meal. Plus, they're made in the slow cooker so the oven is free for other things. —Anndrea Bailey, Huntington Beach, California

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Carrot Cookie Bites

This recipe is a longtime family favorite. The cookies are soft and delicious, and the aroma while baking…absolutely irresistible! I'm always being asked for the recipe. —Jeanie Petrik, Greensburg, Kentucky

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Creamy Carrot Bake

Wondering what vegetable to serve for your Christmas feast? Here's a holiday-special way of preparing sliced fresh carrots. It’s a great side for just about any main course.—Sandy O'Neal, Boalsburg, Pennsylvania

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Roasted Carrot Fries

Turn carrot sticks into fun "fries" with a happier health profile by popping them in the oven and serving them fry-style. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen

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Hearty Sausage & Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes with sausage and sage make a happy dish. I get a lot of recipe requests when I serve this hearty hash with apples and carrots. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas

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Carrot Layer Cake

My sister gave me this recipe for what she calls "the ultimate carrot cake," and it really lives up to the name. When people taste it, they're bowled over by the tender, not-too-sweet cake and unexpected pecan filling. —Linda Van Holland, Innisfail, Alberta

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Chutney-Glazed Carrots

Carrots slow-cooked with chutney, Dijon and ginger make a zippy side for a barbecue or potluck. We love serving these carrots with grilled chicken or beef roast. —Nancy Heishman, Las Vegas, Nevada

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Spiced Carrot Cake

My mom made this cake for my birthday one year because carrot cake is her favorite. Turns out, it's my favorite, too! Now when I make it, I love it with lots of spice. The pumpkin pie spice is a perfect shortcut, but you could use a custom blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves. —Jaris Dykas, Knoxville, Tennessee

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Cumin-Roasted Carrots

Carrots make a super side—big on flavor and a breeze to cook. Plus, I can actually get my husband to eat these fragrant, deeply spiced veggies. —Taylor Kiser, Brandon, Florida

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Contest-Winning Hearty Hamburger Soup

At family get-togethers, our children always request this spirit-warming ground beef soup along with a fresh loaf of homemade bread and tall glasses of milk. It has robust flavor, plenty of fresh-tasting vegetables and is easy to make. —Barbara Brown, Janesville, Wisconsin

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Mrs. Thompson's Carrot Cake

I received this recipe from the mother of a patient I cared for back in 1972 in St. Paul, Minnesota. It was, and is, the best carrot cake I have ever tasted. It’s requested for many family gatherings and celebrations. —Becky Wachob, Kelly, Wyoming

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Kristin George