Hypercarotenemia

Children often present with yellow-orange discoloration of skin (hand is shown on the right, and the hand of his mother without hypercarotenemia is shown on the left). Sclerae are not discolored. The serum bilirubin level is normal. High-performance liquid chromatography showes a marked increase in serum beta carotene levels. The mother was giving two glasses of carrot juice daily for two months. Other causes of hypercarotenemia, such as hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, and porphyria. Stopping the high carotene containing diet relieves the yellowish discolouration.