Vitamin B breaking me out! HELP!
October 21, 2015 10:11 AM Subscribe
Vitamin B has really helped to improve my mental state, I don't want to stop taking it but it's breaking me out. Do you have any alternatives?
So I've been fighting a bout of depression and anxiety and a friend recommended Vitamin B and it's working wonders. (Yes I am seeing a counselor, and I don't feel like that has been much help..but I digress). I was on a heavier dose of Vitamin B but it made me nauseous so I went to the lowest dose I could find and it's really helped except that it has made my skin really break out. Primarily on my chin. Has anyone else had this problem? Does it even out or do I need to find an alternative? What is an alternative?
So I've been fighting a bout of depression and anxiety and a friend recommended Vitamin B and it's working wonders. (Yes I am seeing a counselor, and I don't feel like that has been much help..but I digress). I was on a heavier dose of Vitamin B but it made me nauseous so I went to the lowest dose I could find and it's really helped except that it has made my skin really break out. Primarily on my chin. Has anyone else had this problem? Does it even out or do I need to find an alternative? What is an alternative?
Best answer: I mean regardless of which it is, you can try switching to a different brand for starters. It may be the filler causing the breakout and not the active ingredient.
posted by griphus at 10:15 AM on October 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by griphus at 10:15 AM on October 21, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: B-Complex is a multivitamin which makes this sort of difficult because if your body's problem is with the active ingredient, it will be hard to pinpoint which one could be causing this with just lay knowledge esp. because there is a metric ton of bullshit on vitamins and not a whole lot of easily-accessible actually good information if you're not a health professional.
If you have the means, see if your primary care doctor can run basic bloodwork on you, which should be part of your yearly physical. The benefits you're getting might not necessarily be from a vitamin deficiency (e.g. I'm not particularly deficient in Vitamin D but it makes a huge difference for my mental health) but if they are they may be able to narrow down what in the B-Complex it is that's helping you and then you can try just taking that particular supplement. This might require you to stop taking the B-Complex for a bit, but your doctor should be able to tell you more about that.
posted by griphus at 10:51 AM on October 21, 2015
If you have the means, see if your primary care doctor can run basic bloodwork on you, which should be part of your yearly physical. The benefits you're getting might not necessarily be from a vitamin deficiency (e.g. I'm not particularly deficient in Vitamin D but it makes a huge difference for my mental health) but if they are they may be able to narrow down what in the B-Complex it is that's helping you and then you can try just taking that particular supplement. This might require you to stop taking the B-Complex for a bit, but your doctor should be able to tell you more about that.
posted by griphus at 10:51 AM on October 21, 2015
Best answer: This is really common once you first start on a B vitamin (I have pernicious anemia and have to take one daily, in addition to getting a shot once a month). It -- in my experience, and anecdotally from other people (I belong to a PA chat list) -- definitely evens out eventually. That said, it can't hurt to try another brand of B. I find that sublinguals (the ones you place under your tongue) made me break out less than the standard pill version, and also caused less nausea.
(You SHOULD have your doctor check your levels, though -- if you are low on B, it can cause all kinds of problems that people tend to just chalk up to being tired/depressed/getting old, etc.)
posted by Countess Sandwich at 11:33 AM on October 21, 2015
(You SHOULD have your doctor check your levels, though -- if you are low on B, it can cause all kinds of problems that people tend to just chalk up to being tired/depressed/getting old, etc.)
posted by Countess Sandwich at 11:33 AM on October 21, 2015
Anecdata: if I take biotin, which is included in many B Complex vitamins, I start getting deep, painful cystic acne. It's apparently a side effect for some people. I just make sure my B vitamins don't include it.
posted by Edna Million at 2:36 PM on October 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
posted by Edna Million at 2:36 PM on October 21, 2015 [3 favorites]
It might be linked to the biotin, which is notorious for causing acne. Try cutting down on how much of the vitamins you are taking and/or upping your water intake.
posted by kinddieserzeit at 3:56 PM on October 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 3:56 PM on October 21, 2015 [1 favorite]
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posted by griphus at 10:12 AM on October 21, 2015