B12 & Acne

[mikeg71]

I've seen some headlines recently about B12 causing acne.

I was wondering ........ in the real world, as regular B12 users how many of us have actually suffered spots as a side effect?

I know I haven't. Please post your view/experience 😀

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Acne is a well established side effect of B12 treatment. Know there are regular posts on here about it though have to admit that I'm not aware of it as a side effect for myself. In most cases it seems to be confined to the early phases of therapy and one theory is that it is actually the body getting rid of poisons that have built up during the period of B12 deficiency.

Unfortunately the press does have a tendency to pick things up and present them out of context, particularly in these days of 'sound-bites.'

[mikeg71 in reply to Gambit62]

I agree. I always thought the spots were a positive side effect.

What I mean by that is the healthy red blood cells carry nice oxygenated blood to the skin (and hair folicles) then push impurities through the skin. Hence the spots were short lived. So when I read about bacteria etc I wanted input from others about their experiences.

I have never spoken to anyone with acne side effects and would really like their feedback. Also I'm keen to see if it is as prevalent as the articles suggest or if it's just scare mongering.

thanks for taking the time to write back 😀

[Gambit62 Administrator in reply to mikeg71]

acne is mentioned as a side effect on the B12 (rotexmedica) that I get from Germany - unfortunately it only says 'not very frequently' but doesn't give a 1/1,000 or whatever to indicate exactly what is meant by 'not very frequently'. Haven't seen the articles so can't comment on how prevalent it states.

You might be able to get hold of the English version of the leaflet from your GP if you have injections at GP and that might give something more specific.

[ISOcure4PCOS in reply to mikeg71]

Definitely having the problem... Haven't had this bad of a breakout all over the face since I was a teenager. I would greatly like to know myself if anyone kept on the shots ever saw it clear up? I've been on them for 3 weeks only seems to be getting worse thus far

[pvanderaa]

When I started B12 injections and occasionally after getting too low and then getting an injection, I may get a facial pimple. This last one was more like deep acne.

I think that B12 enables the body to produce more hormones. Depending on how much oil I have in my diet and how sweaty and dirty I have become, my skin reacts with a pimple.

It is not like a full outbreak of acne but only a single spot.

The reason I think my body creates more hormones is that I also get other hormone related symptoms. That is probably TMI.

So in my opinion, B12 does not directly cause acne but enables the body the produce the chemicals and if the body already has a tendency to produce pimples, it goes right ahead and does.

[clivealive Forum Support]

I've never had any problem with acne during the 43 years I've been on Cytamen B12 monthly injections so that must make me fortunate.

I guess no two patients are exactly alike and the same goes for any side effects - it's "horses for courses".

[LolalalalalaLola]

I did get spots around my jawline, which is a sign of hormonal activity while I was having my loading injections.

[wedgewood]

No, I have never had spots/acne while injecting B12(I do both Hydroxo and Methylcobalamin) I know 4 other people with P.A. and they never have it.

[deniseinmilden]

Hi!

When I had my loading doses at Easter my face broke out in loads of small whitehead pimples which were pretty sore and didn't look great! I did some research and found it called "micro pimple acne" as a direct effect of high levels of B12.

It was said to be short lived and as my levels of B12 dropped it quickly cleared up. I'm using it now as a bit of a treatment guide because if I have enough doses to feel OK it starts to happen again but my skin quickly (within a few hours) dries up as my brain function deteriorates. I'm trying to get a balance between being alive and having a sore face!

I've been prone to odd spots for about 28 years and it's similar to my acne but the pimples are smaller and seem to pop up quicker.

Looking back I'm sure my skin has been dry and spot free when I've had previous bad spells of CFS - or what I now recognise as probable B12d symptoms - and it's been one of the better things as I've increasingly struggled with my symptoms over the last couple of years.

My skin isn't greasy and I don't wear makeup or use products on it. For best results I use shampoo or antibacterial soap to clean it thoroughly and it's generally well behaved. At times it becomes really dry and then doesn't pimple. The odd spots I get usually erupt from deep in my skin and seem hormone related but I haven't had children because of "unexplained" infertility (I haven't been tested for B12d before!). About 4 years ago I started to get migraines linked to my oestrogen levels and as they lasted between a fortnight & month they were seriously debilitating so I have been taking a POP to suppress things and I thought that may have been the reason for less spots. I now wonder if it was my system just shutting down with low B12 levels.

I also believe the B12 micro pimples I get are as a result of being more "alive" and not as a result of its effect on surface bacteria but that's only a feeling not science! I'm not sure of the science behind toxins coming out in your skin: doesn't that just happen in your liver? However I do know that something happens from within and I can't do anything to control it!

As a part decrepit, part pimply teenage, 42 year old I'd like to hear more about it too!

[Jenny_wren]

I have always had temperamental skin and prone to spots, but since starting the b12 injections I have had it much worse, though mainly on my scalp! Unusual and irritating but at least it's less visible than on my face. I'm waiting to see if it calms down when I move to less frequent injections

[Marz]

I have read somewhere that when B12 is low and Homocysteine is raised - it is the latter that is trying to leave the body via the skin when B12 levels improve.....

I hope someone will correct me if I am wrong

I suffered horrendously with itchy scalp and then horrid spots prior to having Hashimotos diagnosed - it all cleared up when I was optimally treated - part of which was weekly B12 injections.... B12 deficiency/PA and thyroid can be linked....

[Marianne1]

When I started my loading doses my skin at first turned rough on my back and forehead, then came the spots, I started on the 3 monthly injection and again when I was due an injection, they would erupt again.

Now that I'm on monthly injections, everything has cleared up.

[earthnymph]

I had hydradenitis for years, skin removed due to severe repeated infection, then my appendix went and the hydra reduced to much lower level, theory being it was toxins from leaking gangrenous appendix causing it. It crept back, treated with vit a, improved, but due to side effects stopped vit a, since diagnosis and treatment of pa it's been much lower level. Developed rosacea recently, symptom of b12d, started self injecting as well as doc 8 weekly jabs, skin much better all round, both hydra and rosacea, not gone but much improved, early days so we'll see. So if anything b12 jabs have helped my skin. It's sounding like we all have different and varied experiences, so I would say negative reports are most likely media hype. Also when people rebel and take treatment into their own hands, they are empowered and no longer subjugated by ridiculous systems, and who knows where that may lead? For people who want the status quo returned, a bit of scare mongering might be convenient? Or am I stepping into conspiracy theory realms now? 😉

[DH89]

B12 injections have definitely caused my skin to break out horrendously! After my loading doses, my skin broke out into thousands of micro pimples all over my face, scalp and chest.. I didn't want to leave the house because it was so bad. These type of spots are very specific to b12 injections but my doctor said it was just coincidental. When I had my first maintenance injection after 3 months, it happened again and again the doctor said it was just coincidence. After my next few injections,the spots became less severe but still present,however I can deal with that.

My injections have recently been bumped up to every 8 weeks due to symptoms returning and I began taking wellwoman multi vit about 2 months ago too. My skin has not liked this at all and lo and behold the spots are back!

I've stopped taking the multi vit now but am searching for some without b12 in as I still want to take some.

I'd much rather be receiving the injections than not, but this acne is driving me mad and it affects my confidence so much. Now I have the energy to get out and about but want to wear a paper bag on my head! Haha

[040491sian]

Since I have started having B12 injections for PA more than 3years ago I have suffered with breakouts of spots .I didn't suffer with any blemishes even as a teenager but now in my forties I always have them.But think I can cope with this as long as all the other symptoms from lack of iron and B12 don't come back

[SusieHaigh]

When I had loading doses I brke out in bery painfil spots on my face, GP said it was rubbish to suggest it was anything to do with B12, despite the fact I had never had acne in the past

Aftera bout 5 weeks they went away and have never come back, even after breaks in B12 injections for some months

[Thalia56]

I developed a lot of painful spots on my chest when I was on my loading dose, and then lots of spots along my hairline and on my face. I had my share of spots as a teenager but was fortunate to be spared acne; these spots on my face looked very like acne spots to me. They were also painful.

I've since concluded that hydroxo doesn't seem to work for me, so have switched to methyl and adenosyl instead, which do work, and since then have had only the occasional spot. Of course, for all I know those occasional spot might have happened regardless of the B12!

[pinkiepunksmummy]

I was given B12 injections in December 2014.....After the first injection I developed many spots/acne. I carried on having the loading doses unaware of acne as a side-effect as I was never given the leaflet (nurse at surgery kept it with injections). After the 4th injection I mentioned how bad my skin was and she said to see my GP.....GP was shocked at how bad my skin actually was....a mixture of massive spots/boils/blackheads/small white pimples all over my scalp/face/neck/back/shoulders/tops of arms/chest/stomach/hips/tops of thighs....only areas not affected were my arms and legs below the knees. And they were so painful, swollen and itchy.

The GP diagnosed an allergy to B12....I have quite a few allergies and was already on the max dose of antihistamines, so, she prescribed Steroids and Penicillin. I had a reaction to the (previously fine) Penicillin which gave me an accompanying rash which luckily was mainly on my arms and legs...I say luckily, because it was easy to spot there as no acne unlike the rest of me!

I have had several courses of steroids and antibiotics, but, I am still dealing with the skin problems....not so many now, six months on, but still have many, many blackheads and big spots, boils 1-2 per week, and a good deal of scarring. I am sick of being spotty, my skin was pretty good before, now it is an embarrassing mess.

I was hoping that once the three months was up, it would be out of my system and my skin would clear, but not yet

My GP says it is rare to be allergic to B12, but I did find this article which says if you have cobalt metal allergies then you should avoid it....I do have metal allergies which have been made worse since the injections ( can no longer wear silver earrings) and I am pretty annoyed that the person who suggested I had the injections in the first place was the dermatologist who I had gone to about my allergies, lots of which are on the list in the article! Oh well!

bedfordhospital.nhs.uk/uplo...

[LilyAnn in reply to pinkiepunksmummy]

How did go? It was the b12 responsible for the acne problems?

[RacheyB]

I had my loading dose in April and, between the 5th and 6th jabs, my skin broke out in spots. Three months later (having my next jab tomorrow) and my skin has only got worse and worse. I now have full on acne pretty much all over my face, and it seems to be beginning on my back. I've never had spots in my life, even as a teenager, until now. I put off going to my GP until last week, as I was convinced it was just due to the loading dose and would ease off as my b12 levels dropped, but this hasn't happened. I can feel that I'm ready for my jab as I'm tired, mentally slower etc., so my b12 must be lower, but my skin is just getting worse. Thankfully my GP is being helpful, and has prescribed a two month (minimum) course of antibiotics to hopefully clear up the acne. He said that he is aware that acne can be a side effect of the b12 jabs, but that of all the many patients of his that have had the jabs over the many years he's been a GP (he's pretty old!), I'm the only one he knows of that has had the reaction - typical eh?! He did say he'd like me to skip this jab so that we can 100% ascertain whether or not the acne has been caused by the b12 (he said the fact it hasn't eased off as my levels have dropped makes him question it slightly) but I'm not sure I can do without the jab as I'm shattered!

[Yalaha]

Great to see from the responses that I'm not alone! During the first two months of treatment my shoulders broke out in patches of what appeared to be spots of small acne. My scalp was absolutely covered in the same dots and itched incredibly for over a month. This on a 51 year old man that was fortunate as a teen to not have had too many blemishes as a teenager. (Lucky me I still have my hair or I would not have left the house!)

I agree with the others here that it is the build up of the homocysteine / toxins in one's system that are being purged as everything comes back into balance. The breakout on my scalp seems to have been a single occurrence and was horribly annoying. After that my barber noticed that the texture of my hair had improved considerably. I noticed it as well but thought that I was reading too much into the situation.

I've recently felt that some of my neurological symptoms were cropping up (tremors and neuropathy) in response I increased my B12 intake. Within a matter of days my shoulders have broken out again - although with much smaller patches and dots. The neurological symptoms have subsided and my skin is beginning to clear.

As so many of us have come to realize we must listen to our bodies and treat ourselves with B12 of the type, delivery method and amounts that work best for us. We are all the same yet we are all a bit different - as my neurologist reminded me there is no one single solution with PA.

[Chancery]

Nope, no acne for me. Not even a spot. Rashes though - oh yes.....

[Roblewis31]

I have never suffered from spots until 2 years ago when I was diagnosed with PA, since then and especially after a few loading doses I regularly get spots, even in my scalp, now only occasionally.

[FlyGranny]

I never have had an issue. I've been on b-12 for 11 years.

[megan17]

I had small lumpy spots on my chin during loading doses two years ago. Now self treating with weekly injections and no problems with spots.

[cefjarth]

Got am eczema type rash between shoulder blades with cyano jabs, get 'blind pimple' like big spots on hairline and scalp with methyl jabs...never had spots as a teenager or any other time in my life

[Bluedragon]

I have only ever suffered from the odd spot in my life. Until my loading jabs. I starting erupting from my 5th injection - spots on face, ears and scalp. My forehead was more like Acne - very painful. The nurse was horrified and agreed must be B12. Dr- over the phone- disagreed and said it was my age of 49 and that it was menopausal. I'm on HRT, have been for years, no spots. I have continued to have odd spots to face, scalp and jawbone but fortunately none of those ugly painful ones. I now self inject every few days. Hcy was 13 b4 treatment

[dragonfly5465]

I've never had good skin (since about age 9), and before being diagnosed with PA about 8 years ago I started getting boils on the side of my neck and earlobes (!!!????lol).

Since getting b12 injections the boils stopped, but the bad skin developed into full acne. The doctor gave me antibiotics (but they didn't work even after 2 years) eventually they sent me to the hospital and they gave me accutane, this did work but the acne came back after about 6 months.

Then I found out my foliate was low, my stomach didn't get on with folic acid, so started taking folinic acid (sometimes metafoliate) and a B complex, and my skin started to settle down, now it's ok (will never be perfect but it's good enough for me). But whenever I stop taking the folinic and B complex I get spots again. I'm convinced it's something to do with the balance of B12/folite in the body.

[shevie]

I have had one or two spots, my skin is normally clear. I told myself it was toxins being got rid of! My skin was and still is very dry so i am taking a magnesium bath every other day to see if that helps but its not a biggy compared to the other horrible symptoms

[Serendipity16]

I get neck/ shoulders/ chin spots and a couple other face spots . Worst with loading doses and just a couple when I get the injections now. My homocysteine was high before injections. Last test was lowish but was not kept on ice before testing so not sure it is valid...

[mikeg71]

THANK YOU ALL SOOOOO MUCH.

Thank you for engaging and taking the time to reply. All the responses and personal stories are so interesting.

While we are united in our illness the journey is clearly unique for us all.

[Laurajayne123]

I have suffered terrible spots after my 6 injections within two weeks and I had my contraceptive injection on top of that so it must be all the hormones. It's been nearly three months now and they seem to be getting worse. Bumpy skin then huge painful spots on my chin is the worse. The doctor has given me a steroid cream but it's not helping as the spots are internal I don't know what to do I'm so depressed as I've always had great skin and now I can't leave the house without makeup to cover them as they are so red.

I will not be having my top up dose as I can't carry on like this mine was just a little under but my folate was very low so I took a corse of tablets for three months. I am feeling a lot better now and not so tired. It's just my skin I'm hoping it goes soon as I'm going on holiday in three weeks. I only found out that the b12 causes acne the last week as I was confused why my skin had gone so bad and then I realised it must of been the high dosage.

[Bibbys in reply to Laurajayne123]

Hello. My daughter the same issue. Did it clear up?

[Tiredmuch]

I have! Never in my life had skin issues, till I started b12 injections. When I was getting monthly injections the sores would heal in about 10 or 11 days. The skin on my forehead also burns. Then I had to start biweekly injections and now my face never clears up.. Not fun. I look terrible. I started injections Feb 2017 and kept thinking it would slow down or stop, it hasn't.

[Jayda88]

I had 3 b12 injections over 3 weeks and broke out in terrible acne on my back and neck. It has just started on my face and chest now. It’s been 7.5 weeks since my last injection and no sign of clearing anytime soon