Jun 24, 2015 · Vitamin B12 causes a normal skin bacteria to produce pimple-promoting chemicals. Both people with clear skin and those with acne have Propionibacterium acnes living on their skin.

Dec 17, 2024 · High doses of vitamin B12, especially through injections, can trigger acne by altering bacterial activity on the skin, although this is relatively uncommon. Regular, lower-dose B12 supplementation is recommended for vegans to avoid deficiency and reduce the risk of B12-induced acne, which occurs mostly with high-dose treatments.

Meaning: if you aren’t truly deficient in B12, adding extra B12 to your diet could actually aggravate your skin and cause blemishes. Let’s take a look at why this can happen. We all have a strain of acne-causing facial bacteria on our skin called Propionibacterium acnes, or P. acnes for short.

We found that the vitamin B12 biosynthesis pathway was down-regulated in acne patients and in healthy subjects who were supplemented with vitamin B12 (Figs. 3 and 4). Several lines of evidence suggest that a high level of serum vitamin B12 is associated with acne phenotype.

May 31, 2017 · "Vitamin B12 is a necessary vitamin to produce red blood cells," Beverly Hills-based dermatologist and founder of SkinxFive Ava Shamban explains. However, it can make those with acne-prone...

Jun 24, 2015 · The vitamin B12 biosynthesis pathway in the skin bacterium Propionibacterium acnes was significantly down-regulated in acne patients. We hypothesized that host vitamin B12 modulates the activities of the skin microbiota and contributes to acne pathogenesis.

Jan 13, 2023 · Vitamin B12 acne is included in a subset known as “inflammatory acne.” These include pustules (the white-capped, pus-filled ones), cysts and nodules (the hard, deep ones), and papules (similar to cysts, but not as large).

Apr 24, 2019 · Acne can indicate low B12 levels. There are many testimonials from people whose stubborn acne significantly altered a few months after regular supplementation. Some doctors claim that higher B12 levels lower cortisol levels, which is the stress hormone.

Jun 24, 2015 · Too much vitamin B12 may promote acne, according to a new study. The study found that, in the presence of vitamin B12, the skin bacteria that are commonly linked to acne start pumping...

Mar 27, 2025 · Research clearly shows that high doses of vitamin B12 can make acne worse. Why Does Excess Vitamin B12 Cause Acne to Form? A study from 2015 found that the vitamin B12 absorption pathway disrupted the function of an important skin bacteria called Propionibacterium acnes.