You know the old saying, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”? Let me share with you how I learned this lesson the hard way when I thought I was doing the most with my skincare regime. All I wanted was “glowing skin, hair, and nails.”
It all started one innocent night on Amazon. I was down the rabbit hole and going deeper. I went from needing just one thing to debating which color to get for my new 1400 count Egyptian cotton sheets, and exploring LED colors for backyard patio lights in preparation for Florida Winter, just weeks away. All of a sudden, I saw “Extra Strength 10000mcg Biotin Liquid Drops,” as a featured item and remembered my hair could use some vitamins. The biotin was “vegan-friendly,” and supports healthy hair growth, strong nails and glowing skin, with 3X more absorption than capsules or pills (!). It was screaming, “Pick Me, Me, Me!” Well before I knew it, I added the biotin to my shopping cart and removed everything else except what I was really shopping for, nail clippers.
Thanks to Amazon Prime, the very next day my biotin was at my door and I was ready for my glowing skin beautiful revived hair to take over Instagram. As I opened my package, I was thinking how lucky I was to also have new nail clippers because these nails were about to be growing like weeds! (I got the liquid drops, ya’ll!!) Even though I was really getting the Biotin for my hair, and even though my skin was already nice and clear, it couldn’t possibly hurt to put some extra glow to it. This hair though, has been struggling some since I hit 42. Since I’m all about prevention when it comes to the agin process, I wanted the extra strength of anything to help stop and reverse the process. Why not use something that’s vegan-friendly while helping me live my best life? I am an empowered Perennial woman and I take control of my life. This all made sense!
Oh! And did I mention that at the time this all was taking place, Congressional Black Caucus was just around the corner? The best weekend in the entire U.S. of A.. Obviously I needed to be looking like a queen from head to toe, inside and out. There was networking to be had, people to meet, and galas to attend. Biotin made perfect sense. It was added to my daily routine just like that. One half dropperful a day it was. With my water or solo. Some days I may have even added a little extra for that extra glow and boost.
Within a week, I noticed a bump on my neck. I thought it was a mosquito bite. Then a week later I had a pimple along my hairline. Then another one on my neck. I was doubling up on the biotin at this point because WTH, my skin was NOT glowing. Was it hormones? Was it perimenopause? Of course it was, I told myself. Thank goodness I was on this Biotin! I’m almost 45 so this all made sense. Back to my almost dropperful of Biotin I went! I was probably getting a good 15000mcg because why the hell not? Double extra strength for me!
During this time, I was also traveling pretty often and would leave my biotin at home. It never occurred to me that the weeks I was not overdosing on Biotin my skin was back to normal. Weeks I was home, I was having small breakouts here and there. (Damn “hormones!”)
When things got worse, I started going through my face products scrutinizing everything. I even bought some all natural tea tree oil acne spot treatment because my situation was getting annoying. I was slathering the spot treatment all over my face. Then as the universe would have it, I misplaced my biotin. My face was clear but of course, I assumed it was the tea tree oil. Duh!
Just this week, I found my biotin again and I was back at it making up for lost time. Within two days, my entire cheek was breaking out. What in the entire world? I closed my eyes thinking adult acne may be something I was to deal and I was ready for it. But then my inner spirit spoke to me and I heard the words, “it’s the Biotin you crazy Bih!”
One Google search later and as always, my inner spirit was right. Biotin can cause acne and breakouts!
Five Things You Need to Know About Biotin
- Our bodies naturally produce biotin. People who have low levels of biotin are the only ones who should consume it.
- “Too much biotin can cause cystic acne that develops along the chin and jawline… Dr. Yoram Harth, a board-certified dermatologist and medical director of MDacne, [told] Bustle. ‘Thus, when taking an overload of biotin, the amount of vitamin B5, that is absorbed, decreases.’ This Vitamin B5 is considered to be a strengthener for the epidermis, helping fight acne. The less of the vitamin that exists in your body, the more acne-prone you can become.”
- If your skin is already prone to acne adding even small amounts to your vitamin routine will cause an outbreak. If you’re not prone to acne, you’re still likely to get an outbreak, however, possibly not as severe.
- Cystic acne caused by consuming biotin will not only cause your pores to clog subjecting you to whiteheads or blackheads, but leave dark spots and possibly even scar tissue.
- Biotin comes in many names. Check the labels of any vitamin supplements you add to your routine. Look for “B5 or B7,” H|B-complex, nutrition B complex, vitamin B, and can come in liquid, capsule, or pill form.
The lesson for all of us here is if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Put the Egyptian cotton sheets back in your Amazon shopping cart and leave the extra strength biotin for those folks who need it. Ask your doctor to see if you do.
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