Vitamin B12 Linked to Acne
This article from Science Translational Medicine titled Vitamin B12 modulates the transcriptome of the skin microbiota in acne pathogenesis links patients who are predisposed to acne with Vitamin B12 supplementation. In the article the researchers conclude that Vitamin B12 increases inflammation in those patients who are acne sufferers and therefore can increase acne breakouts.
My question with the article is exactly how much Vitamin B12 will actually worsen a patient’s acne? Also, the test subjects were given a higher dose than a normal person would actually take–though I do have personal anecdotal data with some clients to support their theory on this.
If you are having a recent breakout then, I would ask my usual questions of lifestyle and diet, but now I, and soon many other estheticians, will be asking, “have you increased your dosage of B12 lately?” If you are taking loads of B12 and seeing an increase in acne perhaps try cutting back a bit? Just a suggestion.
http://stke.sciencemag.org/content/8/383/ec178