We Asked Derms About Biotin & Acne—Are the Two Linked?

What Is Biotin?

First thing’s first: Let’s get into what biotin actually is and what it can do for your health. “Biotin is actually a type of vitamin B (surprise!), specifically B7, that's vital to the overall health of our bodies, hair, nails, and skin,” explains Dr. Nazarian. “It’s necessary for the appropriate metabolism of various substances in our body and is found in many foods we eat on a daily basis, such as eggs, nuts, and seeds.”

Increasing your biotin intake through supplements may help increase your overall health, as well as the health of your hair, skin, and nails.  

Can Biotin Cause Acne?

Let’s get into the reason we’re all here: Can increasing your biotin intake actually cause breakouts on the skin? According to Dr. Nazarian, there’s no reason to freak out just yet. 

“There has been a lot of chatter about biotin and circulating information that purportedly linked biotin to acne formation,” explains Dr. Nazarian. “Thankfully, there’s actually never been a true link between biotin, in either topical or oral form, triggering acne formation.”

So why the public outcry? “Some people theorized that since biotin had the potential to interfere with the metabolism of another vitamin, B5, that this might lead to the development of acne, disrupting the absorption of other vitamins that are good for skin health,” says Dr. Nazarian. “This is also now known to be untrue.”

Can Biotin Supplements Benefit Skin?

In fact, adding in biotin with other vitamins has actually shown promise against fighting acne, Dr. Nazarian points out. “There have been smaller studies that have studied biotin in combination with other vitamins that have shown some promise in reducing acne lesions,” she says. “It’s important to remember that at this point there isn’t enough information to suggest the use of biotin, either orally or topically, to treat acne.” 

What derms do know is that “biotin deficiency can lead to problems in production and growth of hair, and inflammation and flaking of the skin,” says Dr. Nazarian. “Biotin is certainly a vital vitamin for optimal hair and skin health.”

The Final Verdict

When it comes to acne, you don’t need to worry about biotin affecting it much at all. “With acne, and skincare, I like to subscribe to a philosophy of ‘safety first’ and ‘science supported,’” says Dr. Nazarian. “Oral biotin (or topical)  has not shown nearly as much efficacy for treating acne breakouts as other longstanding acne-fighting ingredients like sulfur, salicylic acid, and retinoids.”

Just make sure that before you take any sort of supplement you discuss it with your physician because they know your personal medical history and can spot any potential issues. “Unnecessary oral biotin supplementation may be problematic for people who are having specific blood monitoring tests done with their physician,” notes Dr. Nazarian. “Always communicate all your oral medications and supplements with your physicians to better understand what additions and treatments would be a safe and effective choice for you,” she adds.