This is because cobalamin contains cobalt atoms.
However, cobalt allergy and subsequent vitamin B12 allergy are rare.
Cobalt is a mineral with many uses.
GARO / Getty Images
It’s in rechargeable batteries, automotive airbags, steel-belted tires, and magnets.
Anaphylaxis symptomsmay include:
Get immediate medical help for these symptoms.
Contact dermatitis isn’t usually life-threatening.
However, vitamin B12 allergy can be life-threatening, but it rarely occurs.
Contact dermatitis comes in two types: irritant andallergic.
People of all ages are affected.
Research suggests that 20% of all people are affected by this condition.
Females have it slightly more often than males.
Teenagers and middle-aged adults seem to get it more than other age groups.
Causes
The allergy can be triggered by taking vitamin B12 supplements because B12 contains cobalt atoms.
Once you’re sensitized to cobalt, you’ll develop allergic contact dermatitis whenever you’re exposed.
If you have a B12 deficiency, a cobalt allergy can make it hard to manage.
Talk to your healthcare provider about how much B12 is safe for you.
Diagnosis
A cobalt allergy is diagnosed with a patch test.
This involves placing a dime-sized cobalt-laden patch on your back for about 48 hours.
Your reaction is noted after 48 hours, then again a day or two later.
The test is positive if you have blisters, redness, and/or mild swelling at the site.
A vitamin B12 sensitivity can appear as a rash after you take a supplement.
Treatment
The rash from allergic contact dermatitis can be treated with topical orsystemic corticosteroids.
Summary
Large doses of vitamin B12 can trigger a cobalt allergy.
That may cause a red, painful rash called contact dermatitis.
Most cobalt exposure is from makeup, industrial uses, and B12 supplements.
Cobalt allergies are diagnosed with a patch test.
Contact dermatitis is treated with steroids.
Avoiding large amounts of B12 and exposure to products containing cobalt helps manage the condition.
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Published 2018 May 5. doi:10.7759/cureus.2582
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National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements.Vitamin B12.
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