Vitamin B12 and Eczema: Can a Simple Deficiency Trigger Severe Flare-Ups?

Vitamin B12 and Eczema: Can a Simple Deficiency Trigger Severe Flare-Ups?

Eczema is often treated as a surface-level skin condition. Creams, steroids, and moisturizers are usually the first line of defense.

But growing evidence suggests that eczema is deeply connected to immune regulation and nutrient status — including vitamin B12.

Vitamin B12 plays a critical role in immune balance, inflammation control, and nervous system health.
When levels are too low, immune responses can become exaggerated, which is something many people with eczema experience firsthand.

Can Vitamin B12 Really Help Calm Eczema?

Vitamin B12 has been shown to influence inflammation and immune regulation in several important ways.

First, it may help suppress the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines that drive allergic and inflammatory reactions in the skin.

Second, vitamin B12 supports regulatory T-cells, which are responsible for preventing the immune system from overreacting. In conditions like atopic dermatitis, these regulatory mechanisms are often impaired.

Third, vitamin B12 deficiency is frequently associated with secondary folate deficiency. This can further disrupt immune balance and worsen inflammatory responses.

Animal studies have shown that high-dose folate supplementation reduced inflammation in allergic eczema, highlighting how nutrient status can directly affect skin health.

A Medical Case Linking Vitamin B12 Deficiency to Severe Eczema

In 2020, doctors from the University of Verona published a compelling case study.

The patient was an 18-year-old male who had been suffering from severe atopic eczema since the age of 15. He also had allergic rhinitis since the age of 10, with sensitivities to pollen, molds, and house dust mites.

To manage his condition, he relied heavily on topical steroid creams and underwent five to six cycles of oral steroid treatment every year.

His eczema affected multiple areas of the body, including the eyelids, scalp, neck, elbow folds, and behind the knees.

His disease severity score, measured using the SCORAD scale, was 82, indicating extremely severe eczema.

The Missing Piece: Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Further medical evaluation revealed that the patient also suffered from chronic gastritis, anemia, and severe vitamin B12 deficiency.

His vitamin B12 level was measured at 46 pmol/L, well below the normal reference range of 133 to 675 pmol/L.

Importantly:

• Vitamin D deficiency was ruled out
• The patient had discontinued both topical and systemic steroids prior to evaluation

What Happened After Vitamin B12 Supplementation?

After four months of vitamin B12 supplementation, the patient experienced a dramatic improvement.

• SCORAD dropped from 82 to 10
• No topical or oral steroids were needed
• Vitamin B12 increased to 213 pmol/L

At that point, doctors recommended discontinuing supplementation and obtaining vitamin B12 only through food sources.

The Relapse That Proved the Connection

Three months later, the patient returned with a significant eczema flare-up.

• SCORAD increased to 50
• Vitamin B12 dropped again, this time to 97 pmol/L
• Vitamin D levels remained normal

This relapse strongly suggested a direct relationship between vitamin B12 levels and eczema severity.

Reintroducing Vitamin B12 Restored Skin Stability

Oral vitamin B12 supplementation was restarted at a higher dose.

• After one month: SCORAD dropped to 20
• One month later: SCORAD reached just 5

A maintenance dose of 500 micrograms twice per week was continued as long-term therapy.

Over the next two years:

• Vitamin B12 levels remained consistently normal
• No eczema relapses occurred
• No topical or systemic steroids were required

What This Case Teaches Us About Eczema

This case highlights an important truth:

Eczema is not just a skin condition.

It is often the result of an overactive or dysregulated immune system.
In some individuals, that imbalance may be driven — or worsened — by:

• nutrient deficiencies
• impaired digestion
• chronic inflammation

Correcting one underlying deficiency gave this patient’s immune system the support it needed to calm down naturally.

Should Everyone With Eczema Take Vitamin B12?

Not necessarily.

However, people with eczema who also experience:

• digestive issues
• anemia
• unexplained fatigue
• neurological symptoms
• long-term steroid use

may benefit from testing vitamin B12 levels instead of guessing.

A Holistic Approach to Eczema Healing

Vitamin B12 alone is not a universal cure for eczema.
Long-term improvement typically comes from addressing multiple internal factors, including:

• nutrient status
• gut health
• immune regulation
• overall inflammation load

This is why many people choose to support their skin from the inside out.

Because the gut microbiome plays a key role in immune balance and histamine regulation, using a probiotic designed specifically for sensitive skin — such as EczPro — can be a valuable part of a holistic eczema strategy.

Final Thoughts

Sometimes eczema is not about finding the next cream.

Sometimes it is about discovering what your body is missing.

Vitamin B12 is just one example, but it powerfully illustrates how internal balance can translate into calmer, healthier skin.