A rare cutaneous case of carotenosis cutis: lycopenaemia

Objective: To report a rare adult case of lycopenaemia associated with ingestion of excessive amounts of kaki fruit.

Methods: We describe the clinical manifestation and laboratory findings in our patient and the possible causes that induce this cutaneous disease.

Results: A 68-year-old Caucasian woman presented with red-orange tinged skin of the palms and soles. Her diet included about 1 kg of kaki fruit daily. High-performance liquid chromatography showed increased lycopene levels.

Conclusion: Our case of lycopenaemia is a benign condition, secondary to an excessive dietary intake of lycopene-rich fruits. The discoloration of the palms and soles resulted from pigment deposits, due to the slow conversion of carotene to vitamin A. This condition disappeared after changes in her dietary habits.