Will Eating a ‘Retinol Salad’ Really Improve Your Skin?

—Photo-Illustration by Chloe Dowling for TIME (Source Images: Burazin/Getty Images, Science Photo Library/Getty Images) Applying serums or creams with retinol —a vitamin A-derivative known for its anti-aging and acne-fighting properties—may be a mainstay in your skin-care routine .

Some social-media influencers claim you can benefit by “ eating your retinol ” in the form of carrot-dense salads.

Is that true? “The answer is yes and no,” says Dr.

Lawrence Green, a clinical professor of dermatology at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences and vice president of the American Academy of Dermatology.

The “eating your retinol” trend centers on the “ retinol salad ,” which typically includes ribboned carrots, garlic, vinegar, peppers, sesame oil, and lime juice, though recipes vary.

The idea is that carrots are packed with beta-carotene (a precursor to vitamin A), which some influencers claim your body converts to retinol, similar to what’s found in skin-care products.

“This is a great skin-saving salad, but I think the name is misleading,” says Dr.

Rajani Katta, a dermatologist and author of Glow: The Dermatologist’s Guide to a Whole Foods, Younger Skin Diet .

The retinol salad provides vitamin A, which is good for the skin, but it’s not the same as applying an over-the-counter retinol or prescription retinoid topically, she explains.

Here’s what to know about the role of vitamin A and skin health, and whether the “retinol salad” offers any skin benefits.

What’s the difference between the vitamin A in carrots vs. retinol? Vitamin A helps maintain the health of several vital organs, including the heart, reproductive system, eyes, and skin, says Amy Bragagnini, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Beta-carotene, a natural pigment that gives red and orange fruits and vegetables their color, is a precursor to vitamin A, meaning your body needs to convert it to the vitamin, Bragagnini says.

It’s true that the body converts beta-carotene into retinol (which is preformed vitamin A, or its active form).

But it’s “not an efficient conversion,” Green says.