Hi all:
I'm currently receiving B12 shots to address a diagnosed deficiency. Since I began the shots a few months ago, I noticed my skin breaking out like a teenager. Has anyone else had this happen or heard of it?
By the way, I haven't eaten any chocolate or changed my diet in any way.
Thanks!
Sara

by taking vitamin E. I would make sure it is the better type with gamma and others. Apparently it was found a long time ago that some who lacked sufficient E would get acne when their body started to work with the B12 it needs.

Taking other nutrients in reasonable amounts is important, because if something is lacking, the body can't do its best. In addition, the body draws more heavily on some nutrients when it is repairing.

Best wishes,

rose

Thanks, Rose. I will look into Vit. E supplemetation. I also wonder about the best diet to aid nerve regeneration, since my B12 (and B6) deficiency caused my peripheral neuropathy. I want to do all I can to get better.

Sorry to be late to this thread, but I have been working alot more than usual, and just not on line long enough to research this for you.

Here is a common list of drugs/agents that have shown acne potential:
There are anecdotal reports, many of them old, of cyanocobalamin reactions that look like acne, but are a specific type of lesion:
This paper is interesting, because it does not say what megadoses were
required:
Most vitamin supplements do not have megadoses of B12 in them. But they typically do have cyano version.
Here is another:

B6 is capable of causing a skin reaction with sun exposure:
Here is an example of acne caused by inhalers containing steroids:
All of these reports involve low numbers of patients, and a wide span of time.

Some people just cannot tolerate cyano version of B12. You know, this is a man-made product and not natural to the body.

If you suspect your acne is triggered by cyano version, you could switch to
hydroxy injection, or try the oral methyl form.

Other situations can lead to acne "attacks". Low zinc is one. Low intake of Vit A, C, E, and Selenium, also impact the skin.

Also notice in the list at the beginning of this post, that HORMONES are typically triggers. Many women today have PCOS, and the attendant elevated androgen levels, and if this is a possibility, then acne can be caused by this, or triggered by it. You can have blood tests drawn for androgens, and this will tell you if you are experiencing this effect. PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) is more common today than ever and being diagnosed more accurately.

Normal dosing of methylcobalamin has not appeared in the literature as causing acne, that I have found.

Lack of omega-3 in the diet, also leads to acne. My son's acne resolved with flax oil, evening primrose and fish oil daily (one capsule of each). A diet high in damaging transfats will also show up in the skin, so eliminating these harmful fats (most restaurants still use them) is important.

Since medical resources now list daily 1,000 mcg (1mg) doses of methylcobalamin as equivalent to the shots, it might be worth a trial of switching to the oral form. It only costs .09 a day.

MrsD, Thank you!
I had a strong feeling my skin problems were related to the B12 shots and possible also the high B6 oral doses. I may try to tolerate the chin breakouts since I want to heal so deperately. Or maybe I will try the oral B12 and see if it helps. I appreciate the research you provided. Very thorough and so helpful.
Have a great holiday!
OnTheRoadBack

I should have mentioned the type of B12.

Certainly, anyone who can use methylcobalamin (or even has access only to hydroxocobalamin and cyanocobalamin) would not to be relying on cyanocobalamin. Cyanocobalamin has saved countless lives, but better forms have been available for many years and the form is extremely important to some.

rose

Hi,
After nine years of severe facial neuropathy, a new doctor tried Methylcobalamin 10,000 mcg/ml injected twice weekly. Within a month, the neuropathy was gone. Considering I had tried everything from neurontin, enbral, methotrexate, you name it, nothing did anything. The only problem is that my skin is now loaded with cystic acne. I have never in my life had acne, let alone cysts. Every day, a new one appears. They are deep and painful. I now know that other people have had the same thing occur with methylocobalamin, even though my doctor claims that the two are unrelated. I know he is wrong. I worry that if I discontinue B12 shots, the neuropathy will return. I also worry that my face will be scarred if I continue. Is there another form of B12 the cures neuropathy that doesn't cause acne? Is there anything I can do now to heal the cysts on my face.
Also, the cysts have spread to the upper back region as well.

Best

If it is due to the B12, it is probably because another nutrient is lacking. And if that is the case, the body is attempted to repair but doesn't have all of the tools. One possibility is vitamin E. I would make sure all nutrients are covered sensibly, multi, B complex, good E with gamma type, etc.

And of course anyone who is getting shots is likely to be getting cyanocobalamin. Since almost everyone, even with severe malabsorption of B12, does as well or better on daily doses of at least 1000 mcg, I would go with the oral methylcobalamin.

rose

May help this. Flax oil, evening primrose and fish oil.

Other nutrients that help acne are folic acid and zinc.

i started b12 shots and got a rash type acne on my face too!