Are there any dangers associated with the use of carrot macerate?

Obtained by macerating carrot roots in a neutral vegetable oil, the carrot macerate is often appreciated in cosmetics for its healthy glow effect. Among its compounds, beta-carotene, a precursor of vitamin A, is regularly highlighted for its antioxidant potential. Furthermore, the presence of essential fatty acids, such as oleic and linoleic acids, within the carrot macerate helps to strengthen the skin's barrier function and limit transepidermal water loss, but their effectiveness largely depends on the carrier oil used for maceration. The carrot macerate can be found in many skincare products, including tanning preparations, cleansing oils, and sunscreens.

The carrot macerate is generally very well tolerated by all skin types, including the most sensitive ones.

Nevertheless, an adverse event that occurred in 2018 and potentially linked to this ingredient deserves to be reported. A clinical case indeed described a 32-year-old woman presenting with recurrent hyperpigmentation of the forehead, diagnosed as a phytophotodermatitis induced by a sunscreen containing carrot extract. For your information, phytophotodermatitis is a phototoxic skin reaction that occurs after contact with certain plants or plant extracts, followed by exposure to ultraviolet rays. This phenomenon, first described in 1942, is generally caused by furocoumarins, molecules found in several plants, such as the carrot.

After examination using a Wood's lamp, which emits ultraviolet light, researchers concluded that the woman's hyperpigmentation was due to an accumulation of the product on her forehead and that it was a case of phytophotodermatitis. Following the discontinuation of the sunscreen, a gradual improvement in the evenness of her complexion was observed. Although it is impossible to determine whether the observed hyperpigmentation is due to the carrot extract alone, its interaction with other components of the sunscreen, or one of these other components, this extract remains the prime suspect. However, this is only an isolated case, which calls for caution and not to draw hasty conclusions about carrot oil macerate and its potential risks.