Does B12 deficiency cause spots?

Author: Gianni White  |  Last update: Tuesday, January 27, 2026

If you've ever noticed tiny white spots or discolorations on your skin, you may have brushed it off as a result of age or sun exposure. But this change in your skin may be a sign of a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Can low B12 cause spots?

Skin lesions associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are skin hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair changes. Cutaneous lesions that do not respond to conventional therapy can be an indication of vitamin B12 deficiency. Malabsorption is the most common cause of vitamin B12 deficiency.

What does a B12 skin rash look like?

The allergy can be triggered by taking vitamin B12 supplements because B12 contains cobalt atoms. Cobalt allergies most often develop in people exposed to it in eye makeup, tattoos, or industrial products, causing an itchy, red, scaly rash.

What does B12 acne look like?

High-dose vitamins B6 and B12 have also been linked to rosacea fulminans, a condition that looks like acne. Rosacea is marked by large red bumps and pustules that typically appear on the nose, chin, and/or cheeks.

What deficiency causes skin spots?

Basically, white spots in the body are harmless; however, you need to identify its cause for proper treatment to rule out any potential health issue. Vitamin deficiencies, especially the ones in vitamins D, B12, and E are amongst the most common causes for having white spots on your skin.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency Weird Skin Findings (& Hair and Nails)

Why am I getting random spots on my skin?

Irritants can be difficult to identify, but dust mites, latex, and animal dander are often found to be the cause of allergic rashes. Certain cosmetics, plants, and nickel can also be to blame. There are many infections, including viral, bacterial, and fungal infections, that can cause red spots on your skin.

What mineral deficiency causes age spots?

age pigment or lipofuscin, was proposed to be such a material. It is a brown pigment that generally increases with age, and its formation is increased by consumption of unsaturated fats, by vitamin E deficiency, by stress, and by exposure to excess estrogen."

What are the facial signs of B12 deficiency?

The deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause specific skin manifestations, such as hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair and nail changes [1].

What are the negatives to taking B12?

High doses of vitamin B-12, such as those used to treat a deficiency, might cause:
  • Headache.
  • Nausea and vomiting.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Fatigue or weakness.
  • Tingling sensation in hands and feet.

Does B12 help clear skin?

What it does: B12 is necessary for cell reproduction and can be applied topically for skin benefits because it reduces inflammation, dryness, and acne. It is sometimes used to treat conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

What are the worst symptoms of B12 deficiency?

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency
  • mouth ulcers.
  • pins and needles (paraesthesia)
  • changes in the way that you walk and move around.
  • disturbed vision.
  • irritability.
  • depression.
  • changes in the way you think, feel and behave.
  • a decline in your mental abilities, such as memory, understanding and judgement (dementia)

What does a liver disease rash look like?

People may have a reddish purple rash of tiny dots or larger splotches, caused by bleeding from small blood vessels in the skin. If the liver function has been impaired for a long time, people may itch all over.

Can B12 deficiency cause brown spots?

Vitamin B12 deficiency may be associated with a number of pigment changes. Typically, these involve hyperpigmentation, mostly localized in the dorsum of the hands, fingers and feet and sometimes in skin folds and mucosal surfaces.

What happens if your B12 is low for too long?

Complications of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anaemia

problems with the nervous system. temporary infertility. heart conditions. pregnancy complications and birth defects.

How do you get rid of vitamin deficiency spots on your face?

Using vitamin-enriched lotions or oils topically can help treat skin deficiencies as well. For example, vitamin E lotions can applied directly to the skin to aid in healing and relieve dryness. Similarly, Vitamin A-based topical therapies are frequently utilised to address skin texture and pigmentation concerns.

What cancels out B12?

Taking certain medications: Certain medications can cause low levels of vitamin B12 in your body, including metformin (a drug used to manage diabetes), proton pump inhibitors (PPIs are used to treat GERD and peptic ulcers), histamine H2 blockers (a medicine used to reduce the amount of acid your stomach makes) and oral ...

How long does it take to recover from vitamin B12 deficiency?

If the cause of your vitamin B12 deficiency is down to a lack of B12 in your diet, then you can gradually remedy this by eating more food with B12 in it. Through this method, it can take up 6 months to a year to fully recover from a B12 deficiency. The best food groups for B12 levels are meat, fish, and dairy.

Is it good to take B12 every day?

It's a key vitamin that helps keep blood and nerve cells healthy, converts food into energy, and contributes to the creation of DNA, the genetic material in all your cells. But most people in the United States don't need to take a B12 vitamin supplement every day—or at all.

What is the fastest way to fix B12 deficiency?

Vitamin B12 deficiency anaemia is usually treated with injections of vitamin B12, called hydroxocobalamin. At first, you'll have these injections every other day for 2 weeks or until your symptoms have started improving.

What deficiency causes brown spots on skin?

Melasma, a common skin condition causing brown or gray patches, can be influenced by deficiencies in vitamin B12 and iron. Addressing these deficiencies through diet or supplements, along with protective measures against sun exposure, can help manage melasma.

What medications should not be taken with B12?

Summary: As summarized in the table provided, vitamin B12 (cobalamin) absorption and utilization by the body can be compromised with the chronic use of certain medications which include: colchicine, chloramphenicol, ethanol, histamine 2 receptor antagonists (H2RA), metformin, and proton pump inhibitors (PPI).

Why am I suddenly getting age spots?

If you have light skin and spend a lot of time in the sun, you're more likely to develop age spots areas of increased pigmentation. Age spots are very common in adults older than 50, but younger people can get them if they spend time in the sun. Age spots can look like cancerous growths.

Which fruit is rich in vitamin B12?

There are ten major sources of vitamin B12 fruits. These are apples, bananas, oranges, mangoes, strawberries, guava, avocado, pomegranate, kiwi, and blueberries. Apples- Apples rank first in the vitamin B12 fruits list.

What vitamin removes age spots?

Vitamin C reduces the appearance of age spots, dark spots, freckles, blotchy spots, sun damage, acne scars, redness.

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