Most of us have experienced acne at some point in our lives. And – according to one TikTok creator – vitamin B5 could be the solution. Sound too good to be true? Read on.
It’s estimated that 95% of people aged 11 to 30 are affected by acne to some extent, with women generally more likely to experience it than men. Although acne can often cause discomfort, thankfully there’s a growing skin positivity movement, which sees many content creators celebrate – rather than criticise – skin diversity.
Still, it’s understandable that people with acne may be keen to try and test different remedies to ease their skin condition – especially if it’s causing them pain. One TikTok creator, @spa.mma, shared a clip that appeared to show her skin clearing up after two weeks of taking vitamin B5. You can watch the video, here:
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People in the comments were quick to share their opinions on vitamin B5, with one person writing, “i take them whenever i break out, instantly clears it and my skin is sooo stubborn usually [sic]” and another adding, “this might be my resort rn cause i’ve tried everything [sic].”
GLAMOUR spoke to Jessica Sepel, a clinical nutritionist and founder of JSHealth, and Dr Miriam Adebibe, a cosmetic doctor and co-founder of Victor & Garth, to find out if there’s any science behind the hype.
Jessica points out, “There is no research to suggest B5 can clear skin within 2 weeks,” explaining that although she is a “BIG believer in vitamins” she also “believes in balance when it comes to health solutions, not extremes,” adding that “any solution always takes time – especially a sustainable one.”
She added that, “Vitamins take time to build up in the body [and] must be taken consistently for a period of time to see noticeable changes.” With regard to the TikTok clip, she continued, “I would be looking to see an improvement in skin health after about five to six weeks when it comes to vitamins. This is about the time when we see our skin products start to work and clear the skin.”
“I am interested to know if she is also taking care of her gut health simultaneously, which may lead to better skin results.”
Dr Miriam Adebibe was similarly sceptical of the implication that vitamin B5 could clear acne in two weeks, telling GLAMOUR, “Since it takes approximately 30-40 days for your epidermis to turn over once, it follows that this is the minimum time it takes to see real skin changes in fine lines, hyperpigmentation, or acne.
“In fact, it’s more like an average of three to four months before you can truly gauge the effect.”
Dr Adebibe points out that vitamin B5 has been shown to improve skin’s moisture, when used as an ingredient in topical skincare, saying, “it’s moisturising effects will show improvements within days” and “the skin will appear less dull, better hydrated, and smoother.”
