Cutaneous manifestations associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are skin hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair changes. A diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency is often overlooked in its early stages because these signs are not specific to vitamin B12 deficiency alone.
Vitamin B12 and Folic Acid
This is why it is always recommended to take these two vitamins together in order to treat vitiligo. According to some scientific studies, a combination of vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation and sun exposure is a good strategy to regain natural skin color.
It needs to be included in the diet as the body cannot synthesize it. According to an original study conducted in the Birmingham Medical Center, the University of Alabama, 15 patients diagnosed with vitiligo were reported to have low levels of Vitamin B12 and B9.
In another study of people with vitiligo, oral supplementation with folic acid (10 mg per day) and vitamin B12 (2,000 mcg per day), combined with sun exposure, resulted in some repigmentation after three to six months in about half of the participants.
Low levels of Vitamin B12 can also lead to vision loss and skin problems like acne. Many people also begin to suffer from constipation, diarrhoea, appetite loss, bloating and flatulence. People who have a deficiency of vitamin B12 develop pallor.
A deficiency in vitamin B-12 can present itself as white spots or patches on your skin. Since vitamin B-12 is also essential for the production of hemoglobin in red blood cells, you may also be at risk for pernicious anemia, a condition that causes pale skin, fever, and weight loss.
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 causes vitiligo? Vitiligo is an autoimmune disease. This type of disease develops when your immune system attacks part of your own body. If you have vitiligo, your immune system attacks cells in your body called melanocytes.
Studies suggest that vitamin D3 increases tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis in vitro [12], which may lead to repigmentation in vitiligo skin lesions. Calcipotriol and tacalcitol, which are vitamin D analogs, are also known to induce repigmentation in patients with vitiligo [13,14].
Three of the best vitamins for lightening dark spots are vitamin C, vitamin B12, and vitamin E. Vitamin C helps your skin produce more collagen while inhibiting the formation of melanin. Vitamin B12 also promotes collagen formation while supporting the growth of new skin cells.
Vitiligo can be triggered by stress to the melanin pigment-producing cells of the skin, the melanocytes.
About 15 to 25 percent of people with vitiligo are also affected by at least one other autoimmune disorder, particularly autoimmune thyroid disease, rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, psoriasis , pernicious anemia, Addison disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, celiac disease, Crohn's disease, or ulcerative colitis ...
Vitamin B12 is extremely beneficial for skin health for several reasons – it is necessary for cell production, reducing inflammation and dryness, and for overall heathy hair, skin, and nails.
Vitamin B12 plays a crucial role in skin health by providing essential nutrients for collagen production and by helping to maintain the skin's natural moisture balance. Vitamin B12 also helps to promote healthy cell growth, which can help to reduce the appearance of wrinkles and other signs of aging [1].
There are certain vegetables, called Nightshades, that cause inflammation, and have been known to cause Vitiligo. Some of these nightshades that you should avoid is: tomatoes, white eggplant, paprika, potatoes and tobacco. Processed foods should be avoided as much as possible.
Cutaneous manifestations associated with vitamin B12 deficiency are skin hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair changes. A diagnosis of vitamin B12 deficiency is often overlooked in its early stages because these signs are not specific to vitamin B12 deficiency alone.
The normal B12 consumption is 2.4 μg per day. Only fifty to sixty percent is absorbed [16,17]. Vitamin B12 has been shown to be useful for repigmentation in patients suffering from vitiligo. Folic acid (or vitamin B9) has been proven to be significant for treating vitiligo.
Vitiligo causes are unknown but hereditary is the top most contributing factor. A person having the tendency to develop vitiligo can suffer from this disorder when any of the following triggering factors come into action like emotional stress, anxiety or fear.
Vitiligo is associated with other autoimmune disorders and has been reported to develop following the onset of viral illnesses, such as HIV, hepatitis C virus, and cytomegalovirus.
The deficiency of vitamin B12 can cause specific skin manifestations, such as hyperpigmentation, vitiligo, angular stomatitis, and hair and nail changes [1].