Taking an excess of vitamins won't cause freckles. Freckles come from melanin production in your skin. Some melanocytes -- cells that produce pigment -- produce more melanin, which darkens your skin, than others. Freckles, small areas of pigmentation, appear after sun exposure, although some people have freckles year-round. Vitamin overdoses can cause a number of skin rashes that might resemble freckles, however. If you take more vitamins than recommended and develop freckle-like spots, see your doctor.
Rashes That Resemble Freckles
Skin reactions that could resemble freckles include petechiae, small red spots where bleeding occurs under the skin and rashes. Petechiae, like freckles, don't blanch or turn white when your press on them; they may appear brown or purple rather than red in some cases. While they're often pinpoint size, they may also blend to form a larger spot that might look quite similar to a freckle. Petechiae occur when your blood doesn't clot normally. Some vitamins can interfere with blood clotting; anticoagulant medications can also cause petichiae. Petechiae can also occur as part of an infection. Other skin rashes that resemble freckles can be spotty or scaly. Rashes can be flat, like freckles, or slightly raised. Skin rashes have numerous causes, from vitamin overdose to viruses or allergic reactions.
Causes
Excess amounts of B-complex vitamins -- especially vitamin B-1, B-7 or B-8 -- can cause skin rashes. Overdoses of B-8, also called inositol, can cause an acne-like rash. Taking too much vitamin E can interfere with blood clotting, which could cause petechiae to form under the skin. Any vitamin could cause a rash if you're allergic to the dyes, coating or material used to manufacture it.
Treatments
Unless you've just spent extra time in the sun, freckles don't usually appear suddenly. If you have a rash that looks like freckles, check with your doctor. If taking excessive amounts of vitamin E or B-complex vitamins, stopping the vitamins will normally cure the problem. If you have petechiae due to an overdose of vitamin E, your doctor may monitor your bleeding time to make sure the problem resolves. He may check other blood tests to make sure you don't have another underlying bleeding problem that needs treatment.
Considerations
Excess bleeding into the skin from a vitamin E overdose could have serious health consequences, especially if you also take blood thinners. Internal bleeding could occur that could damage vital organs or increase your risk of stroke. A Harvard Medical School meta-analysis of seven clinical trials reported in the November 2010 issue of "BMJ" on the risks of vitamin E and stroke. The review found a 22-percent increase in hemorrhagic stroke in people taking vitamin E supplementation. If you notice an increase in petechiae, let your doctor know immediately and stop taking the supplement.
