It’s quite a sensitive & complex subject, as such we will do our best at providing a clear and concise article to clear any doubts you may have.
You Took Too Much Vitamin B
While vitamin B is an important nutrient for your blood cell health and overall functioning, too much of it can can lead to side effects like — you guessed it — skin problems. Getting vitamin B from food alone is unlikely to result in symptoms. This may be the case, for instance, if you take a prescription supplement to help manage high cholesterol, as these pills can come in doses higher than the daily recommended intake of 14 to 16 milligrams, according to the Mayo Clinic.
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A common symptom of excess niacin is extreme facial flushing, per the Mayo Clinic — a side effect known as a “niacin flush.”. Getting too much niacin can cause additional side effects, including:
Rapid heartbeat
Itching
Gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea
Gout
Liver damage
Fix it: Talk to your doctor before taking any supplements so you can get a formula that meets your individual needs and has minimal or no side effects. But if you’ve already taken a supplement and have symptoms of a vitamin B overdose, stop taking the supplement and talk to your doctor, per the Mayo Clinic.
Besides a skin rash, other symptoms of a lack of biotin may include: Loss of hair
High cholesterol
Heart problems.
You Have A Vitamin B Allergy
Vitamin B12
If you notice a skin rash along with other symptoms after taking a vitamin B supplement, an allergy may be to blame. Although rare, a May 2018 report in Cureus found that someone had an allergic reaction to vitamin B12 injections, with symptoms like itchy skin and hives.
Additionally, the same person didn’t experience any side effects after taking oral vitamin B12 instead of the shots, which may be because injectable vitamin B12 can contain impurities and preservatives with allergenic potential, per the Cureus research. More research is needed to better understand vitamin B allergy rashes and B complex allergy symptoms in general. Biotin
Biotin — aka vitamin B7 — may also produce an allergic response (like biotin hives) in rare cases.
This nutrient is often added to hair growth supplements and topical solutions, and is marketed for its ability to strengthen your hair and nails, according to the University of Michigan Health. But if you’re allergic to it, biotin can cause side effects, per the University of Michigan Health. These may include:
Hives
Mild skin rash
Facial swelling
Gastrointestinal issues like upset stomach or diarrhea
Fix it: If you have an allergic reaction to any type of vitamin B supplement, stop using it and talk to your doctor about how to proceed.
Warning It’s possible to have an extreme allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, where your throat closes up and makes it difficult to breathe, per the Mayo Clinic. Get medical care immediately if this happens to you.
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The frequency of B12 deficiency in CIU is unknown.
Our objective in this study was to determine the prevalence of B12 deficiency in patients with CIU and also its relationship to gastric H. Pylori infection and serologic markers of autoimmunity in these groups. Thirty-three patients with CIU and 27 healthy controls were included in the study. Serum vitamin B12 levels, H. Pylori infection and serological markers of autoimmunity (anti-thyroglobulin, thyroid microsomal, gastric parietal cell and antinuclear autoantibodies) were investigated.
In CIU patients, there was no difference in the frequency of IgG H. Pylori antibodies between those with low B12 levels and normal B12 levels. An association between low B12 levels and H. Pylori could not be shown.
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Ment of Dermatology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City; and †The Laboratory for Investigative Dermatology, Rockefeller University, New York, NY.
Address reprint requests to Douglas L. Powell, MD, Department of Dermatology, University of Utah School of Medicine, 30 N 1900 E Room 4A330 SOM, Salt Lake City, UT 84132. The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to declar.