Can Vitamin B12 Cause Acne Breakouts?

Too much vitamin B12 can lead to acne breakouts, according to a recent study. The study found that when vitamin B12 is present, skin bacteria associated with acne start to produce inflammatory molecules that can cause pimples. Multivitamins, which usually contain large amounts of vitamin B12, can also trigger acne. For many years, doctors have said that there is no connection between diet and acne.

However, recent evidence suggests that certain foods or supplements can increase acne. This has become a hot topic in scientific literature over the past decade, with multiple studies looking for associations. There is good evidence that following a low-glycemic diet (or eating foods that are low in sugar or processed carbohydrates) can improve acne. Other studies are exploring how consuming skim milk may be linked to worsening acne in some people. Other foods and supplements are also being investigated, including the effect of vitamin B12 on acne.

A recent study co-authored by Hyiying Li from UCLA found a link between vitamin B12 and acne. Li and his team discovered that taking vitamin B12 increases the amount of that vitamin in facial skin. This, in turn, causes a certain facial bacteria (propionibacterium acnes) to produce more porphyrins, which leads to inflammation and can cause acne. If you've recently added a vitamin B12 supplement or a multivitamin complex containing vitamin B12, this could be the cause of your breakouts. Vitamin B7, or biotin, can limit the absorption of vitamin B5, or pantothenic acid, which is important for maintaining the skin barrier and therefore making the skin more susceptible to acne. After linking the vitamin to acne, researchers analyzed 10 fair-skinned people who were asked to start taking vitamin B12 supplements.

However, research provides information not only on vitamin B12, but also on the genetic activity that could cause pimples. If you notice a series of new imperfections and wonder what could be causing the increase, check your daily intake of vitamin B6 and B12. She recommends taking off your vitamin B supplement and waiting four to six weeks for the rash to go away. Some research suggests that B vitamins (which are a complex of eight water-soluble vitamins) can cause acne breakouts. To avoid eruptions caused by iodine, choose supplements such as vitamin D, zinc or fish oil to keep your skin clean and balanced. Another vitamin that can cause flare-ups is vitamin B12, which is important for the production of red blood cells. The other problem that affects people with acne is the fact that vitamin D is fat-soluble, meaning it is stored in the system (unlike vitamin C, which is excreted quickly).

Daily multivitamins usually contain about 250% of the daily intake, while real vitamin D supplements contain more than 400-500%.

Ben Liebhardt
Ben Liebhardt

Amateur travel fanatic. General web buff. Certified travel junkie. Twitter nerd. Infuriatingly humble web practitioner. Certified beer nerd.

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