Acne with B12

[Lion3]

Am due for my next injection after the loading dose of B12 I had a terrible acne reaction to my loading dose and after a couple months my skin has almost returned to normal however I’m scared to get my next one in case this happens again, has anyone found the bad skin continues after every injection or does it slow down?

[EllieMayNot]

Everyone is different but it slowed down for me. Actually, no worse now than before starting the injections a few months ago. Hope this is the case for you, too.

[Nackapan]

It does slow down but I do still get them but not every injection. My face mainly stays clear now but I get them on my neck and hairline.

The spots were bad at the start. Just keep them dry

[pvanderaa]

Once you body gets B12, metabolism kicks into high gear. You will see new symptoms appear. Keep a logbook to help sort them out.

Additional hormones are one thing and it is like you are back at puberty. Crazy. But as you get sufficient B12, folic acid and a daily multivitamin, things level off as your body figures out what is normal again.

[ickyrocket]

Hi Lion3. I have never been troubled with acne previously but after the 6 b12 loading doses in February of this year I came out in acne around my hairline and my scalp was very lumpy and itchy, GP prescribed me T-Gel shampoo. I've now had two further injections (three months apart) and I am still getting acne around my hairline but not as much and nothing in my scalp. It must just be a side effect for me. I've not noticed much improvement since the b12 injections in my general well-being but I am keeping going with them for now. I tested positive PA with the antibodies earlier this year. I also have graves disease.

Hope this information help.

[HowCome in reply to ickyrocket]

Hi ickyrocket, can I ask what antibodies were labelled as PA antibodies?

I've had low B12 in the past, and GP tested for some antibodies, but the test report notes with each antibody were confusing. (e.g. "absence of intrinsic factor antibodies does not exclude a diagnosis of PA").

Thanks

[ickyrocket in reply to HowCome]

ps.

I think by testing positive for the gastric parietal cell antibody it means that my body doesn't make enough intrinsic factor to absorb b12.

I also have anti thyroid peroxidase antibodies which relate to my graves disease, which is another auto immune condition.

[HowCome in reply to ickyrocket]

Thankyou for reply!

[Sharon75]

Hi Lion3

Yes it slowed down for me and returned to normal.

[HowCome]

Hi Lion3, thanks for posting about acne.

I just want to log in the replies, with your post, that I had something similar.

(Sudden, quite severe acne on face, especially forehead, around ears and onto cheeks, on jawline, neck, and hairline. Plus lumpy scalp - hard to see what. Plus chest and upper back. All felt horribly itchy - moisturiser helped.)

I had the 6 loading injections. But have not gone back for the quarterly injections.

Oddly, my levels have recovered a bit, and the GP is not insisting on injections. (June 2018: 82pmol/L. July 2019: 208pmol/L. Range for both is: >145 'defficient', 145-250 'insufficient', and Consider reducing dose if >569pmol/L. )

I have not got in gear with supplementation or oral spray, in the year in between, but I have started since late July with a bunch of recommendations from a nutritionist.

The acne has improved. But jawline and neck still particularly prone. Worse around period.

(My health issues and symptoms are not severe, more vague & frustrating - just not myself anymore. I have thyroid issues as well. I'll update my profile, rather than write lots here.)

[lownskater52]

I heavily supplement b12 (2 injections a week and daily 1000mcg methyl) and I have just started to develop some minor acne around my mouth for the first time since high school. I'm going to taper back just a bit but it's worth it still if I can recover from my years of symptoms.

[Chinaxo]

Hi, I had my second injection after the loading dose a month ago and still suffering with acne! It isn’t as bad as it was during the loading dose (lots of spots with whiteheads, including on my chest and all over my shoulders) - this time I have large spots on my cheeks, some small bumps on my chin and small bumps all over my back! The nurse told me this is common and should stop happening once my body becomes used to a normal level of b12. Hope this helps!

[HowCome in reply to Chinaxo]

I wish the nurses would tell the doctors!!!

My GP has no knowledge of acne following B12 injections. And she’s a dermatologist (turned GP).