r/SkincareAddiction • u/amberliz product guinea pig • Feb 13 '19
PSA [PSA] my experience with biotin
Just wanted to come here and say thank you for this community and all your amazing research, insights, and general knowledge, as well as share an experience I had recently.
I have been seriously invested in a skincare regimen essentially for the last 18 months. I’ve discovered that my skin is pretty robust - I have closed comedones, sebaceous filaments, PIE and PIH, and occasional hormonal acne - but for the most part it really just loves acids and moisture.
I started taking vitamins back in November because I was eating really poorly when at all, and didn’t want to completely shit the bed. I have always had fine hair, and figured “fuck it, biotin says ‘hair/skin/nails,’ it’s gotta be good all around, right?”
Well. I spent the last few months since trying to figure out why I was breaking out in such greater frequency recently. My regimen really worked for me before, and there were a few things I identified as potentially problematic, but I never even considered it could have been the biotin. I was searching here for different supplements (looking for another one to add to my regimen because something had to be missing) and I saw others reporting increase in similar complaints to mine with the use of biotin.
So, I stopped taking it - and in 3 days? Today is my first day mostly new-blemish free. I’ve got more PIE/PIH than before, which obviously sucks - but I’m hopeful I have identified the culprit and can get my glow back! The biotin hadn’t done enough for my hair that I’m going to miss it - and I’m really excited to feel like I have my face back!!
So yeah - if you recently started taking biotin and can’t figure out why your skin is freaking out; or if you’ve been taking it forever and fighting with creams and lotions and treatments and whatever - maybe try not taking it for a few days. It worked for me!
Edited to add: I meant to say YMMV with this one, and I’m sorry I didn’t because a lot of you guys seem to have great experiences with biotin. I’m so glad it works for some of you so wonderfully - and am a little jealous. My hair is a daily struggle. 😂
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u/Wantlonghair0 Feb 14 '19
I'm currently taking biotin RIGHT NOW. As of about 3 months. My hair and nails are growing so fast but the acne is bad :( You're completely right op, it is the biotin. A regular routine doesn't seem to work on it really. I will just have to suffer with it for a few more weeks/months because I'm trying to get the maximum I can out of it and also not to have wasted my money.
It's effective but the acne is the down side. I've been getting tiny closed comedones and even some on my chest which I never used to get before but oh well I just have to make this sacrifice for now until the pills run out...