I have been told I have a b12 defiency I don't know my levels but I am due for 6 injections over 2 weeks.
I have read how b12 can cause acne and if that is the case I do not want these injections as mentally I will not cope, I live on my own and already havd skin issues (acne flare ups, rosacea, urticaria, Seborrheic dermatitis, preciously had cystic acne). My skin is a huge trigger for me and causes severe depression and if I get bad acne I am scared what mental state it will put me in.
The symptoms I have ehich may be why I have b12 deficiency is thrush oral and vaginal, fatigue and exhausted, bowel issues, forgetfulness but also struggle to sleep at night, weight loss.
I also have other conditions hypothyroidism (100mg levo), Interstitial Cystitis (chronic bladder disease), IBS, Endometriosis, Rosacea type 1 and 2.
I've seen some people mentoon there are different types of injections which may help or to take supplements instead....
Any help wohld be much appreciated.
Thank you x
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Chacha2309
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If the reason for your B12 deficiency is Pernicious Anaemia , then injections are really your only option . If it’s dietary. ( not eating food which contains B12 , namely meat fish, dairy , eggs ) you could take tablets . But it sounds like P.A. It is only a minority of patients who get spots from B12 . I have injected B12 weekly for 5 years , and never had spots . I hope that you will get some advice from people who’ve had this problem and how they overcame it . Do be optimistic and realise that it’s unusual for spots to happen . You have come to the best place for advice on B12 . Best wishes .
Your fatigue and forgetfulness are quite likely caused by your low B12. Not treating the deficiency is only going to make those symptoms worse and cause others to manifest. You can look forward to nerve damage causing permanent pain and a loss of balance that can make it difficult to walk properly.
Not everybody gets acne when they have their B12 deficiency treated. And those that do find that it only lasts a couple of months.
When you are B12 deficient it's not just you that suffers. The bacteria that live on your skin also become deficient. When you rectify your deficiency you also treat those bacteria, who can go on the rampage, causing acne. After a while they calm down and everything returns to normal.
It sounds as if you should be able to treat any such outbreak.
But the main message is - acne is not a common side effect.
fbirder I've not seen anything to suggest that B12 deficiency means that skin bacteria become deficient . Interested to know what is your source?This study from 2018 suggests that the mechanism in operation is actually a response to excess B12 - and is not dependent on a preceding deficiencyncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
Chacha2309 my personal experience was years of increasing acne as I became B12 deficient and my skin has actually improved to the point where acne is not an issue anymore since I was diagnosed as B12 deficient.
Whilst I know acne is a huge issue for people who suffer on a number of scales the reality is that it is a very small minority that experience acne as a side effect of B12 injections, for many it does resolve as the deficiency corrects and it is an even smaller minority that experinece it as a permanent side-effect. Unfortunately the consequence of not having injections if you have an absorption problem/using another form of supplementation is that the deficiency develops and eventually becomes life-threatening.
It was a couple of years ago in a post wittering about the ance being caused by the raised levels of B12 enabling the body to detox itself by squirting homocysteine out onto the skin.
But I haven't the time to hunt for it now.
Note: edited by admin to remove reference to a named medical practitioner
I can't give you medical advice but I can tell you my experience.
I got acne quite bad after starting injections (Hydroxocobalamin) and it continued for 6 months, after which it tapered off to nothing. Unlike you, I had never had previous skin issues and it caused me a lot of anxiety.
However, when I searched on this site and google, I found that it is not particularly common.
Your Doctors would not have prescribed injections if they didn't think you needed them.
I can not stress enough how important it is that you proceed with them.
Another thing to consider is that your tendency to depression my be a symptom of your deficiency in B12 and this may very well improve with treatment. In my case it was severe anxiety; which actually eased off before the acne did.
I know it seems daunting but you are talking about a very small risk of acne verses an almost guaranteed improvement in your mental state.
Thanks for the reply, the doctor did originally suggest tablets but as I struggle sometimes taking meds he said they can do injections instead. I'm going to ring the the doctors to actually find out what my b12 blood levels were. I have no idea if mine is diet or neuro as I've had some of my other symptoms which I've put down to other medical conditions I have and I've been on quite a strict diet due to have oral thrush (so had to cut out dairy and I've not been able to eat solids for a few weeks due to a sore throat and even afte oral meds my thrush still hasn't gone). I did read or others have suggested to take b3 alongside the b12 which can help with the acne. Do you take any other vitamins alongside your b12 injections? Have your symptoms got better since injections, how often do you have them? Thanks x
Good idea to chat with your doctor. If tablets work that would be great.I take folate, magnesium, D3 & a multivitamin every day. that seems to work for me. others will have a better idea on whether B3 should be in the mix
My symptoms have improved a lot. One suggestion you will see on here a lot is to keep a dairy of your symptoms. I do this on an excel spreadsheet and I grade them from 1-10. my highest has been 194 and I am currently averaging 12. If your problem is a B12 deficiency you will be surprised how quickly some of the symptoms taper off. Others will persist and you will think that you are not improving but the diary will show that things are slowly getting better.
I inject daily (as an aside; needles freaked me out all my life so it was a big step for me to self inject. But I would do anything to not return to my pre-diagnosis self)
Whatever you go with (injections or tablets) I hope it works for you and, at the very least, gives you the strength to fight any non-B12 issues that remain
I have not had acne from my B12 treatment, and after 4 months I noticed the first slight improvement in my rosacea. Please do try the injections, you may find it helps some of your complex issues. I do hope you find some relief.
Personally I had acne type cysts since I was 22 I think it was brought on by being gluten sensitivity or celiac. I am now 63, since giving up gluten and injecting B12 my skin is clear.
I had severe treatment resistant depression and anxiety fo several decades. Every other day injections since February last year has completely removed all these debilitating mental health issues. So it may be that the B12 injection will reduce your mental health problems even if you get a few acne like spots for a short time. It isn't acne - just looks a bit like it and showering with a mild shower gel for sensitive skins helped mine.
I got a slight increase in acne for the first few months and then it tapered off. Get the injections, your quality of life will be so much better you won’t care about a few zits!
Hi I experienced acne after taking 3 b12 shots in a month. Never had acne like this before I wish someone informed me it can cause acne as my skin is a huge deal for me. I'm not coping quite well. I just wished I educated myself more before takin these injections prescribed by the doctor.
I wonder if the acne can caused by the body’s detox systems struggling with the cyanocobalamin used by NHS for loading doses.
I have not read up on the research on this angle.
But the cyano group has to be processed by the body, after it methylates the cobalamin - the methyl form being one of the 2 forms our body can use.
(The study that Gambit references used hydoxycobalamin.
And it’s think reading, but it seems there was a change noticed in the bacteria on the skin. So that may be different.
The article does have other references (20-25) about observations in France and Germany, on Acne related to B12... might shed more light.)
Personally, I was reluctant to take maintenance injection, so I tried oral supplementation Using mythology form, including the oral spray (I have possible absorption issues).
I may need another set of loading doses, soon, and may go back for the nhs cyano injections, just to get it done.
but afterwards, I may try the oral spray methyl cobalamin again, for maintenance.
But I don’t have severe symptoms of PA, and my GP is not clear that is my condition.
But it may be more important for you, if it is clear you have PA - medical histories vary so much! And you clearly feel rotten. And as folks say, above, PA needs to be taken seriously, including re long term.
Hi Chacha, Take the injections. I have psoriasis and it is a key indicator of how much B12 I need. My skin has improved immensely since I've been getting my injections.
You may need more than the Drs will give you.
Your body needs vitamin B12 for DNA, energy release and carrying oxygen round. So as you mend, bits of you literally regenerate. So expect the odd random spot and skin inflammation as that bit kicks out the old and repairs.
You sound a bit anxious about the situation. Anxiety is part and parcel of B12 deficiency too. It's to do with the neurones in your brain not connecting well and being breathless with the anemia. You'll get your headspace back too.
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