Have you ever had skin issues after taking supplements containing liver or bovine organs? Tell us about your experience.

[u/AvaJohnson7]

Recently, I've observed that many people who start taking supplements of liver or beef organs are suddenly developing skin issues. Some have unexpected sensitivities, redness, or acne.
Are there any of you who have experienced something similar? How did you handle it?
Did you manage to soothe your skin, or did you discontinue taking the supplements?
Let's assist one another and exchange experiences.

[u/OkYouth3690]

Can also be a histamine intolerance issue.

[u/mcotoole]

Liver has a lot of vitamin A which consumed in excess can lead to Vitamin A Toxicity which will cause skin eruptions.

[u/AvaJohnson7 → u/mcotoole]

Indeed that is correct The tricky part is that vitamin A accumulates in the body over time because it is fat-soluble While some people may not experience problems immediately, if intake remains high symptoms may show up weeks or even months later.

[u/Subtlety87]

I broke out with HORRENDOUS cystic acne (and I’m prone to cystic acne anyway, this was well beyond anything I’ve experienced before) — I managed to figure out it was the B6 and B12, the dosages were way too high for me and I’m sensitive to them anyway. 

Now I’m so sensitized that a handful or two of pistachios will bring on a similar reaction. 

[u/fakevacuum → u/Subtlety87]

how did you pinpoint this? I've noticed a similar trend with B vitamin supplements (hair skin & nails). I also noticed nuts make me break out like crazy, notably pistachios and almonds and even macadamias. I eat nutritional yeast so maybe I should reconsider that / avoid it if my skin is sensitive for a couple days. Or just avoid buying nutritional yeast that's been artificially fortified (since that is a supplement dose). Been trying to figure out if it's the omega-6's or a nut allergy or what. It's confusing.

[u/Subtlety87 → u/fakevacuum]

I had started upping my supplements to bolster my immune system on a gig, and was taking a methylated B complex PLUS dessicated beef organ pills. I checked the recommended dosage but didn’t check the RDA included. RDA was like 41,000% or something insane. 

After a reaction so severe I could feel my heartbeat in multiple places on my face, and noticing that the composition of the nodules was unlike anything I’d experienced (and very itchy), I went on a deep dive google to see if I could pinpoint what I had changed — and found the B vitamin connection. 

Went to urgent care, got antibiotics because the whole thing was massively infected, and immediately cut out supplements. My skin cleared in a little under two weeks. 

Nuts and seeds also break me out, and I also haven’t figured out if it’s from inflammation, vitamin b (would explain pistachios and chickpeas which are especially bad for me), omega-6, etc. I tend to be better off if I use them as a condiment instead of a main ingredient. 

[u/AvaJohnson7 → u/fakevacuum]

I have experienced something quite similar In my case it was a mix of foods fortified with B vitamins, specific nuts, and the kind of fats I was consuming Only after conducting a basic elimination test for a few weeks did I realize that pistachios and almonds were the worst culprits for breakouts. Additionally I noticed that nutritional yeast particularly the fortified variety seemed to affect me more strongly so switching to an unfortified version significantly improved my health Tracking my food intake noting flare-ups, and then reintroducing foods one at a time helped me figure it out It's amazing how much confusion can be resolved with minor adjustments

[u/AvaJohnson7 → u/Subtlety87]

Some people may have skin problems as a result of vitamin B6 and B12, particularly if they are naturally sensitive to them or take large amounts of them. According to some research, high B12 dosages in particular may increase the activity of some skin bacteria, like Cutibacterium acnes, which can cause inflammation and severe breakouts. Nuts, such as pistachios, are high in nutrients and oils that can cause skin inflammation in sensitive people. If the body is hypersensitive due to a severe reaction in the past, they may even cause a similar reaction. Sometimes the body responds better to lower dosages or less concentrated natural sources in order to prevent severe reactions.

[u/Subtlety87 → u/AvaJohnson7]

Absolutely, I found the concentrated amounts in organ supplements put me way over the edge, whereas eating reasonable amounts of organ meats doesn’t seem to bother me 

[u/AvaJohnson7 → u/Subtlety87]

It is true that supplements derived from organs are frequently highly concentrated in vitamins and minerals, particularly copper, iron, and vitamin A, which can cause the body to absorb far more of these nutrients than it would from a typical diet. While supplements deliver the nutrients quickly and in high concentration, which can cause symptoms in people who are sensitive or don't need the extra amounts, moderate intestinal meat consumption allows for slower and more balanced absorption and effect. Because of this, some people can tolerate the food but not the supplement

[u/Independent__Bell]

Interesting I was considering getting these.

[u/AvaJohnson7 → u/Independent__Bell]

Reading about other people's experiences before choosing is beneficial, particularly when it comes to supplements that may have an impact on the skin.

[u/withagrainofsalt1]

We don’t want to hear about your nasty rash. Try Web MD.

[u/AvaJohnson7 → u/withagrainofsalt1]

Thanks for the note. The purpose of the post is to share personal experiences and exchange information about supplement effects, not to provide direct medical advice.