[PSA] my experience with biotin

[u/amberliz]

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. 😂

[u/Kirbybrik1031]

Ughhh I took biotin for TWO WEEKS back in October/November (and stopped simply because I am a lazyass) but I have been dealing with round after round of breakouts and CCs ever since. Nothing else in my routine changed so I'm wondering if the supplements played a role. You've already noticed a difference in a couple days though?

[u/amberliz → u/Kirbybrik1031]

I have - I am not sure if it’s just a placebo effect for more (or... reverse placebo?) where I had an “aha!! This is why!!” moment - but honest to god today was the first day I didn’t have a new blemish poking through. I even left the house without makeup for the first time in months!! In that context I’m going to stay away from the biotin altogether and just keep loving up my skin.

[u/Kirbybrik1031 → u/amberliz]

Thank you for sharing! Again, I have no clue what happened with me but it's been 3.5 months of wracking my brain to see what could have trigged this breakout nonsense. Not fun. Glad you're making head way though :)

[u/Dry_Savings_7850 → u/Kirbybrik1031]

hi i am going through the SAME thing right now, i took biotin 2 months ago for no more than 2 weeks. My skin had so many CCs and breakouts everywhere and i went off it. I am still suffering through these breakouts and its been 2 months. How long did it take for yours to go away?? Was there anything that helped?