Pigment

Carotenemia

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Carotenemia, Carotenoderma, Carotenodermia, Carotenosis, Carotinemia, Carotinosis, Xanthemia

  • Pathophysiology
  1. Skin deposition of carotene
  • Causes
  1. Excessive Carotenoid (pigmented vegetable) ingestion
    1. Beta Carotene
    2. Licopene
    3. Xanthophyll
  2. Failure of liver to metabolize carotene
    1. Hypothyroidism (Myxedema)
    2. Diabetes Mellitus
  • Symptoms
  1. Asymptomatic
  • Signs
  1. No Pigment in Sclera or Buccal mucosa
  2. Yellow pigmentation of skin (Carotenoderma)
    1. Nasolabial folds
    2. Forehead
    3. Behind ears
    4. Palms and soles
  • Differential Diagnosis
  1. Jaundice (Hyperbilirubinemia)
  • Labs
  1. Plasma Lipochrome elevated
  2. Blood carotene elevated