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Sore cracking lips reaction to b12 injections

Sandytango profile image
8 Replies

Has anyone had sore lips, cracking and dry skin around top lip as a reaction to b12 injections? I never had this problem before treatment for low b12 began, just 4 months after starting injections! Its constant and seems to be getting worse. Any ideas or similar reactions? Think I saw sensitivi to cobalt mentioned somewhere, if so what to do? Many thanks in advance

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Sandytango profile image
Sandytango
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8 Replies
mary70 profile image
mary70

Can B12 cause cracks around mouth?

B Vitamins Deficiency: specifically vitamin B-12 (Riboflavin) can cause cracked lips that have difficulty healing. Angular cheilitis is a severe and very uncomfortable lip condition in which cracks and sores are present in the skin at the corners of the mouth when there is a B vitamin deficiency.

mapledentalhygienecare.com › ...

When it comes to My Dry, Chapped Lips… -

Sandytango profile image
Sandytango in reply to mary70

Thanks, but I never had it before when I was very deficient, only after a few months of injections.

mary70 profile image
mary70 in reply to Sandytango

mapledentalhygenecare.com - does show the reaction regarding your experience of your dry chapped lips +.

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support

I have only ever heard of angular cheilitis or sore, dry and splitting lips being listed as a fairly common symptom of B12 deficiency - not as a reaction to B12 injections. I had this problem for what must have been over a decade before B12 deficiency was found. By far my earliest symptom.

I have been seeing an Oral medicine consultant - and the answer was to use only nipple cream (100% lanolin - so ensure no allergy to that !). Twice a day - after cleaning teeth morning and night - I apply the cream once with clean hands. The consultant suggested using it from a teaspoon to avoid contamination of the contents, but to be honest, the cream is so thick that you can just use from the tube without risk.

I know this works for me - if I stop using it, the soreness and splitting return within a few days. The frequent B12 injections that keep my other symptoms under control have not been able to rid me of this condition. Despite trying to grow cultures several times, my consultant was unable to find any evidence for bacterial infection: staphylococcus or candida.

[I included a photo of this condition in a previous post, about a week ago.]

The only reaction to B12 injections that I'm aware of because it gets posted about regularly are spots : usually on face, around hairline, on neck, in ears. These are usually short-term and short-lived spots that occur soon after injecting and go in a couple of days. Normally, they stop appearing after a while. I found that mine would return after a "blip" (an unexpected and sudden temporary deterioration) - but welcomed then as a sign that I'm getting back on track.

There have been adverse reactions to certain types of cobalamin (B12) but these seem to be about reaction to the use of other ingredients within the liquid and are rare. In these cases, alternatives are generally found.

When I have read about reported adverse reactions to B12 injections in reports, they are usually unacknowledged B12 deficiency symptoms. What can often happen is that, at the beginning of treatment, symptoms can increase and worsen during repair.

Sandytango profile image
Sandytango in reply to Cherylclaire

Many thanks, yes I had the spots but better now. The sore lips is only since injecting. Maybe something else then, will try the nipple cream!

Loupharm profile image
Loupharm

how often are you injecting? I’m wondering if you’ve reduced the frequency of injection and are dipping back in to deficiency or perhaps been particularly eg. busy, exercised, ill.. that could cause a dip too. Also are your co- factors good and corrected too? - iron folate vit d

Sandytango profile image
Sandytango in reply to Loupharm

Good point thanks - my iron was low - im taking tablets but I need to get everything checked soon.

BleekerStreet profile image
BleekerStreet

No. But I have got a problem with my tongue. It is very sore, and sort of covered with a white/brown crust. It is pretty horrible. Thought I might have thrush (wife suggested I had) and took a tablet. I'm 60 and have never had thrush. The condition eased slightly, now the crust covers about 2/3 of my tongue rather than all of it, but has not gone. However, my doctor has recently instructed me to reduce by B12 jabs from every other day to once a fortnight. I wonder if the two are related.

Also getting severe pain in my heels and rear soles of my feet, one foot more than the other. Some days I can hardly walk. Seems to come on either when walking, or when lying down, although sometimes when sitting as well. Trouble is, PA brings so many symptoms I am not sure which symptoms I have are related to it. Any thoughts anybody?

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