Having a vitamin B12 deficiency can reveal itself in how your skin color appears. This is because red blood cells are unable to carry necessary oxygen, bringing a pale pallor to the skin. A yellow hue can be due to jaundice, which can be a symptom of a severe lack of vitamin B12.
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.
Vitamin C aids in the whitening process by priming the skin cells and making them more susceptible to the effects of Glutathione. Additionally, research suggests that Vitamin C itself may possess some whitening and brightening properties.
The deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause specific skin manifestations, such as hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair and nail changes [1].
The hyperpigmentation related to vitamin B12 deficiency is more common in darker-skinned patients. Few other cases of skin hyperpigmentation due to vitamin B12 deficiency have been reported in the literature. The mechanism of hyperpigmentation is due to increased melanin synthesis rather than a defect in melanin.
Vitamin C (or ascorbic acid) is especially fantastic at treating age spots on the face because it depigments or reduces melanin on the skin—thereby removing dark spots.
Hydroquinone is used to lighten the dark patches of skin (also called hyperpigmentation, melasma, "liver spots," "age spots," freckles) caused by pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone medicine, or injury to the skin. This medicine works by blocking the process in the skin that leads to discoloration.
When taken at appropriate doses, vitamin B-12 supplements are generally considered safe. While the recommended daily amount of vitamin B-12 for adults is 2.4 micrograms, higher doses have been found to be safe. Your body absorbs only as much as it needs, and any excess passes through your urine.
Pale or yellow skin, called jaundice, may be a symptom of vitamin B-12 deficiency. Jaundice develops when a person's body is not able to produce enough red blood cells. Red blood cells circulating under the skin provide it with its normal color. Without enough of these cells, the skin may look pale.
Vitamin: B12 Cobalamin
Recommended for those suffering from psoriasis and eczema, B12 reduces skin inflammation, redness, dryness as well as acne. It improves skin cell reproduction, thereby healing skin issues faster.
Skin brightening relies on four key steps: cleansing, exfoliating, cell turnover, and moisturizing. While cleansing and exfoliating are always the first two steps, depending on your specific skin care concerns, you can tweak the other two steps to suit your needs.
There are several names that have become synonymous with skin brightening. The usual list of suspects read: niacinamide, vitamin C, and retinol—all of which contribute to the pursuit of complexion luminosity in some shape or form.
Applying prescription bleaching creams (hydroquinone) alone or with retinoids (tretinoin) and a mild steroid might gradually fade the spots over several months. The treatments might cause temporary itching, redness, burning or dryness.
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."
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, is used as a treatment modality in depigmentation of hyperpigmented spots on the skin and gingiva.
This is called the epigenetic clock, and it can be changed by what we eat. In this study, we found that women who took supplements of folic acid and vitamin B12 had a slower biological aging. More studies on the effects of our diets on the epigenetic clock will help people to live longer and to stay in good health.
It may take a few weeks before your vitamin B12 levels and symptoms (such as extreme tiredness or lack of energy) start to improve. If you have hydroxocobalamin injections to boost your vitamin B12 levels at the start of treatment, the cyanocobalamin tablets may start to work within a few days.
Once you begin treating your vitamin B12 deficiency, it can take up to six to 12 months to fully recover. It is also common to not experience any improvement during the first few months of treatment. If you can, it's a good idea to address what's causing the deficiency.
Key points about vitamin B12 deficiency anemia
Without enough red blood cells, your tissues and organs don't get enough oxygen. Without enough oxygen, your body can't work as well. Symptoms include weak muscles, numbness, trouble walking, nausea, weight loss, irritability, fatigue, and increased heart rate.