Biotin and acne?

GiveMeABMW · 03-01-2007, 01:20 PM

Has anyone else started taking biotin and noticed an increase in facial acne?

I don't know if it's a weird coincedence or what, but when I started taking biotin the first time around I got 3-4 huge, unpleasant cystic bumps on my face. I thought it might be the biotin so I stopped taking it, and sure enough, clear skin. Then a few days ago I popped another pill and now have another couple of big zits.

If it is the biotin, why does it cause acne??

WavingNotCurling · 03-01-2007, 05:23 PM

I'm starting to think you might be on to something. I've been taking Biotin for the last couple months. I've been thinking it was my "facial" products, but since you mentioned this I think I may stop the biotin and see if that clears it up. There's always a catch, huh?

Caleilani · 03-01-2007, 05:35 PM

I thought it was the Biotin that was causing my acne,but now I found out that I have problems with my putuitary gland that's been causing my acne all along during my 30s.Right now,I'm taking Minocycline for it,and still taking the Biotin.I never got acne in my teens.But,I have heard people getting breakouts from using biotin.HTH.

CurlyQTPie · 03-02-2007, 03:50 PM

There are other ways to get biotin in your system. Maybe the pills are just to harsh? I was taking BioK, which is a live active culture probiotic. Apparenetly the live bacteria make biotin not to mention just make your whole body feel good. Everytime I take BioK regularly, my skin just glows.

BTW, it's a small yogurt like drink that comes in both dairy and non-diary variations. It's available at your locatl health food store or online.

one_red_cent · 05-21-2007, 06:43 AM

Yes, yes, and yes.

Never had problems with my skin, even going through puberty! When I started taking biotin (and a fairly low dose at tat), I broke out like a 14-year-old boy. Took it for two years, kept breaking out, tried every face product on the market. A Google search lead me to stop taking it, and my skin cleared right up.

If you're having problems with breakouts, you just might not be able to take it.-- even at low doses, my skin goes crazy. Now, if only my nails would cooperate...

xcptnl · 05-21-2007, 10:54 AM

Ahhhhhhh - interesting. I have been taking the GNC hair skin nail formula for about a month. I usually never break out and I also thought it was skin products. I am going to stop taking it and see what happens.

stellaBaby · 05-24-2007, 05:51 AM

I'm also taking biotin also in fairly high dosages and I started breaking out at first, I mean like really huge pimples would pop out of no where. But I read somewhere I'm guessing some other board, that if you increase your water intake it actually helps you cope a little more. I've tried that and honestly I still break out up not as much and the acne isn't as Big and 'juicy' (gross, I know) as when I first started. And um my nails were a little stronger when I started I actually got a chance to actually grow them out a little but now they are a little weak, wonder why.

luvmylocs · 05-25-2007, 05:05 PM

so does this go away after awhile? if not i won't repurchase because i struggle with acne and i'm not sure how much it's helping me with my hair growth.

denisemounie · 05-25-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmylocs

so does this go away after awhile? if not i won't repurchase because i struggle with acne and i'm not sure how much it's helping me with my hair growth.

I would discontinue use if it is making you breakout. I took biotin for a while, but no acne. I suggest using the Hair, Skin, and Nail vitamins. I'm taking them and my nails are growing like crazy. I think it is helping my hair a little. I'm really enjoying the nail growth cause in the past my nails would never grow. Also, I hear the GNC Ultra NourishHair is good for growth. I haven't tried this but GNC is having a sale for the holiday, so I may pick some up.

kd · 05-29-2007, 08:55 AM

I got GNC UltraNourish and after about two weeks i started to break out; then I decided to just finish the bottle and try the hair nails and skin by GNC; little did i know that it actually had more biotin in it than ultra; so i got one more pimple after that, and just stopped taking them, and i have not have anymore problems since. I really hate that because i've heard such great things about it.

CurlyQTPie · 05-29-2007, 11:53 AM

I think that it depends too on how you start taking the Biotin. For example, if you didn't take it before and suddenly start taking like 3000 mg a day, your body will react. I think it's probably better to start with smaller dosages and then increase once you see how it works in your system.

stellaBaby · 05-29-2007, 12:01 PM

I agree with Kd and CurlyQTPie. If you already have a problem with acne you might want to rethink the amount or dosage of Biotin you take in.
Try taking small to large dosages and see what works best for you and how much your body cant handle without flaring up basically.
I remember up your water intake

stellaBaby · 05-31-2007, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stellaBaby

I agree with Kd and CurlyQTPie. If you already have a problem with acne you might want to rethink the amount or dosage of Biotin you take in.
Try taking small to large dosages and see what works best for you and how much your body cant handle without flaring up basically.
I remember up your water intake

OK, so maybe I spoke too soon.
New update on Biotin intake.
I had mentioned earlier that I was taking gnc hair skin and nails along with 600mg of Biotin considering there is already at least about 2500mg of biotin in the gnc hair skin and nails I think. Well I've been off and on that 600mgs but recently (for at least 5 days now) I've been taking it consistently, it turns out I woke up this morning with a milky way of at least four to five little pimples gathered in one spot on my forehead-sorry if I grossed you out. Yup, I'm laying off that 600mg for a while. Lol I don't break out as much if I take it every other day I don't know if that will have the same effects if any.

luvmylocs · 05-31-2007, 09:07 AM

and i was going to say that even though i'm taking 5000mcg a day i haven't had any skin issues but i'm also following up with good skin care including using salicylic acid and bpo every morning and tazorac at night to treat my acne....my skin is completely smooth. i had acne before i took the biotin. on a related note i found that excessive iodine really causes breakouts....if i eat a lot of shellfish (high iodine) like in sushi bad things happen.

stellaBaby · 05-31-2007, 09:04 PM

5000mg a day?
i think doing that will cause me to flare up.
so where you taking this every day?
how did it sum up to 5000mg.

stellaBaby · 06-01-2007, 02:17 PM

Oh and I was wondering what your hair growth progress is like.

luvmylocs · 06-07-2007, 10:57 AM

it's going pretty good i think. i buy it in a single dose from whole foods. masscurly on these boards said her dermatologist told her that was a good and safe amount for hair growth.

denisemounie · 06-08-2007, 09:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmylocs

it's going pretty good i think. i buy it in a single dose from whole foods. masscurly on these boards said her dermatologist told her that was a good and safe amount for hair growth.

are you taking 5000mg or 5000mcg? I think 5000mcg = 500mg... not sure though? i just notice that some vitamins use mg vs mcg...

stellaBaby · 06-10-2007, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmylocs

it's going pretty good i think. i buy it in a single dose from whole foods. masscurly on these boards said her dermatologist told her that was a good and safe amount for hair growth.

So how many inches do you get per month?

luvmylocs · 06-10-2007, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stellaBaby

Quote:

Originally Posted by luvmylocs

it's going pretty good i think. i buy it in a single dose from whole foods. masscurly on these boards said her dermatologist told her that was a good and safe amount for hair growth.

So how many inches do you get per month?

wow i don't measure...i never have. i just pull my hair from time to time to see how long it is unstretched...and it's a lot longer since i cut my locs in dec and it was next to nothing in length. i'm thinking i'm going to twist my hair soon and that's when i see my best length.