Eleven years ago, I cut my hair.
And as per usual, I loved it until I hated it and wanted it to grow back THIS INSTANT.
Sadly, you cannot just cut and paste your hair back on. So I did the next best thing known at the time - I investigated then ingested biotin.
When I first asked my stylist about biotin, she told me that the only draw back was that it grows your hair every where. Okay, fine. As long as I got the hair on my head back quickly, too. Well, I started taking biotin. Soon after, I started getting acne. Lots of acne.
Now, if you're unfamiliar with the reason why I started my business, Mineral29 Organics, it was because acne was nothing foreign to me. From teenage acne to adult acne, the comedones were a constant in my life. But this was different. At the time, I had a handle on my acne. The breakouts were more so related to eating wheat (I had stopped) or when my cycle was rebooting. These breakouts were out of the norm. The only new dynamic to my health regime was biotin. When I stopped the biotin, the acne stopped as well. Now here is the thing with biotin - it is a natural product. It can be easily taken in through diet: ingesting eggs, sardines, nuts, etc. It is used for when you have thinning hair, brittle nails. And while the body does not store Biotin, certain bacteria in the intestine can make biotin.
So my body should have been familiar with this vitamin. And there was no scientific evidence that supports it being the cause of my breakouts. So maybe it was just coincidental. But to be on the safe side, I steered clear of it.
Until I forgot. Fast forward to 5 months ago. Same situation: I had cut my hair (too close, might I add) and though I was almost two years into my hair growth, I wanted it to grow faster NOW. For heaven's sake, I wasn't getting any younger. Because I was not getting any younger I also started taking collagen, since with age my collagen production decreases. And it is so good for the body - my personal experience. So I ordered marine collage capsules that contained biotin. After three days, I got my first breakout. On my cheeks. On my chin. Places I had longed since stopped getting breakouts, especially since my products take good care of my skin. Remembering my previous experience (a bit too late , I might also add), I discontinued taking the capsules. I loved the effect the marine collagen had on my skin, however. So I ordered a marine collagen that was sans the biotin. And I also ordered a liquid bovine collagen as well.
The collagen intake....was great. Too great. Too much of a good thing. I was beginning to think collagen, biotin, were more frenemy than friend because my acne was once again constant.
The breakouts subsided post-biotin...then increased when I started double-dosing on collagen. Again, collagen is natural to the body. Our body makes collagen through amino acids. I was just introducing too much into my body, so quickly. And the hormone flux that it may have been causing could have contributed to the breakouts that erupted on my chin, alongside my mouth, and on my cheeks. Did that make me discontinue using collagen? Heavens, no. I still take collagen daily but I only take one type (marine) and once a day (in my morning beverage). My breakouts have tapered off and my body is adjusting back to its' normal....semi-normal self. But the takeaway is this: If you are hormonal acne-prone and you're working on a skin health journey, be very cautious what causes your hormones to flux. The resulting set-back can be devastating. There are many experiences from others online about collagen and biotin causing acne flares. If this has happened to you, take heart: just because there is no scientific correlation between biotin and collagen causing acne does not mean you are alone in your experience. Sharing in such a way helps all of us be informed; warning each other of the possible effects such things could have on our systems. And you know what? That's not being a frenemy; that's being a friend.
About the author Hi there, I'm Billie. I've been hand making skin care and make up for problematic, specifically acne-prone skin, professionally for almost 7 years. I've been fighting dastardly comedones for going on 30-plus. While I'm not fighting bad bacteria, I am homeschooling my *gulp* teenage son and arguing with my keeshond doggie. Or I'm writing new songs to perform for friends. I also take much joy in keeping my spirituality strong - which helps me survive the teenager and the doggie, among other things.
I live in the beautiful PNW
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