What Is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 or niacin, an essential nutrient that provides many health benefits to your skin, kidneys, heart, nerves, gut, brain, and other body organs.
Niacin is present in certain greens, whole grains, lean meats, soy milk, eggs, yeast, salmon, and many other foods. When your body has too much niacin, your body starts to make niacinamide. Your body can also make niacinamide from an amino acid called tryptophan.
The synthetic form of niacinamide is used in making moisturizers, serums, and other skin care products.
Niacinamide vs. niacin
Niacin, also called vitamin B3, is a type of B vitamin that dissolves in water. Your body needs a small amount of this nutrient every day to stay healthy. Niacinamide is a product of niacin. Your body makes it when you have too much niacin.
The synthetic form of niacinamide can be artificially made into a food supplement and used as an ingredient in products that manage skin conditions like hyperpigmentation or dark spots, acne, and psoriasis.
Niacinamide Products
Niacinamide has gained popularity for its ability to improve your skin’s health and appearance. It is an active ingredient in moisturizers, serums, sunscreens, creams and lotions, cleansers, and other skin care products.
These niacinamide products improve skin health and treat skin conditions like:
- Acne
- Hyperpigmentation or dark spots
- Psoriasis
- Skin aging
- Pruritus or itching
- Skin inflammation
Supplements with niacinamide may also help with health conditions, including:
- Diabetes
- Schizophrenia
- Depression
- Alzheimer's disease
- Muscle spasms
- Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Arthritis
- Migraine
Researchers are still looking into its potential for improving these health conditions, and more evidence is needed to confirm whether and how well niacinamide works for these conditions.
Niacinamide Uses for Skin
Research on the benefits of niacinamide for skin is still in its early stages, but topical niacinamide contains properties that help treat some skin conditions, such as acne and eczema. It helps the skin build proteins and lock in moisture to prevent the damaging effects of external factors.
Builds skin immunity
The components of niacinamide are restorative. They help restore the cellular energy of the skin's cells and repair damaged DNA.
The nutrient also reduces the immunosuppressive effects of the sun’s UV rays, fighting off external and internal stressors that contribute to the degeneration of your skin and are a cause premature aging.
Niacinamide also helps prevent the transfer of pigment within the skin, meaning that you'll have fewer brown spots. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it helpful for treating skin inflammation and managing related symptoms, such as redness and red patches. Overall, you'll have stronger skin that preserves hydration for improved skin health.
Treats skin inflammation
The anti-inflammatory properties of this nutrient make it an ideal treatment for skin inflammation. Niacinamide works by blocking immune system chemicals that promote inflammation. It may be used to treat skin conditions involving inflammation, like eczema, inflammatory acne, and contact dermatitis.
For example, when taken as an oral supplement, studies show that niacinamide reduces inflammation associated with mild to moderate acne. It works effectively where oral antibiotics fail or are not an option. In severe cases of the condition, systemic steroids or retinoids may be better treatment options, not vitamins.
Reduces signs of aging
Niacinamide can also help with fine lines, pigmentation, and wrinkles. A few studies published a few years ago show significant improvements in fine lines, wrinkles, and hyperpigmentation. That study needs further research as another split-face study seems to suggest that the nutrient is ineffective. In treating melasma, which are patches of discoloration, for example, 4% hydroquinone was found to be more effective than 4% niacinamide.
Minimizes pores
Niacinamide, alone or with other active ingredients, may help reduce pores and roughness and improve overall skin appearance. Studies have found that using only 4% niacinamide improved pores, roughness, and skin unevenness after 8 weeks.
Niacinamide may help with shrinking pores, improving skin texture, and preventing clogged pores by controlling the amount of oil your skin produces.
Brightens skin
Researchers are still looking into how it works for skin appearance. But niacinamide may help brighten the skin and may be helpful for treating conditions involving skin discoloration like hyperpigmentation.
Skin care products with 5% niacinamide may help improve the appearance of dark spots. It can also be used with other skin-brightening ingredients like retinol to treat uneven skin tone.
May protect from skin cancer
In The New England Journal of Medicine, a 2015 study showed that one of the things that niacinamide may do best is prevent skin cancer. Researchers observed the reaction of the nutrients in 386 patients for 12 months. The study's participants would take the nutrient twice a day.
All the participants had had nonmelanoma skin cancers within the past 5 years. This means they were also at high risk of getting another skin cancer. The results of the study showed that cancer cases in the participants reduced by 23%. But this study didn't prove that taking two niacinamide capsules daily will definitively prevent skin cancer. The participants in the study had a history of skin cancer, but the nutrient's effects on the general public are not known. Ask your dermatologist about oral niacinamide if you have had multiple nonmelanoma skin cancers before.
Does niacinamide help with acne?
In one study in The International Journal of Dermatology, a topical mixture of 4% of the nutrient was as effective as 1% clindamycin in treating acne. Clindamycin is used to treat various bacterial infections. A 2021 study also suggests that combining 5% niacinamide with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide (a medicine for treating mild to moderate acne) works better than 2.5% benzoyl peroxide alone.
Topical niacinamide also inhibits the production of oil, which is a benefit to people dealing with acne. The element is also non-irritating compared to most other acne treatments on the market. It makes for an attractive treatment option for people with sensitive or dry skin. Limited evidence also shows that topical niacinamide works to repair the function of the outer protective skin layer.
Niacinamide can also help reduce swelling and redness with inflammatory acne. It may also help fade acne scars and improve your skin's overall look and feel.
When to Use Niacinamide
You can use niacinamide after cleansing or moisturizing but before using sunscreen during your skin care routine. You can apply it once or twice daily, as a part of your morning and nighttime routine.
It is generally safe to use niacinamide. It rarely causes any side effects, no matter when you use it. But manufacturers advise you to do a patch test to check for any possible reaction with the ingredient.
How to Use Niacinamide
If you're considering using niacinamide to treat hyperpigmentation and dark spots, it’s best to combine it with other ingredients. Brightening ingredients like kojic acid, a byproduct of fermented rice that comes from mushrooms, is also is a good option.
Here are other popular combinations of niacinamide to get the most out of this ingredient.
Niacinamide and vitamin C
It’s a common myth that using niacinamide and vitamin C products in the same skin care routine may irritate your skin. This is far from true for most people. Using niacinamide together with vitamin C can boost the antioxidant, anti-aging, and brightening benefits for your skin.
However, you can do a patch test before using these products together to confirm that you won’t have a reaction to either ingredient.
Niacinamide and hyaluronic acid
You'll also reap more benefits from the product if you use it alongside hyaluronic acid, which increases absorption. While you may not see any significant results during the first few weeks, there should be a notable difference by about 4 weeks. After 8 weeks, you should notice more hydrated, smoother, and toned skin.
Niacinamide and retinol
Retinol is a widely used ingredient in skin care products because of its many benefits for skin health. It helps reduce wrinkles, brighten skin, treat acne scars, and improve hyperpigmentation. It also improves collagen and elastin production, keeping the skin hydrated and radiant. However, it can also cause skin irritation, especially for beginners.
Combining niacinamide with retinol can make both products work even better and help reduce the irritating side effects of retinol.
If you don't see any results within a few months, consult your skin care specialist. They will assess your skin and skin care routine and advise you on the products to incorporate in taking care of your skin.
Niacinamide supplements
When you don't get enough niacinamide or have a severe niacin or vitamin B3 deficiency, your doctor might suggest taking niacinamide supplements. Your doctor will recommend the right supplement for you and explain how to take it.
When using niacinamide as a supplement for acne, combining it with zinc, folic acid, and copper will make it work better in treating acne. Talk to your doctor first and tell them about any other medicines or supplements you’re taking before starting niacinamide supplements.
Niacinamide Concentrations
It’s generally safe to use skin care products that contain 5% niacinamide or less. If you’re prone to having skin reactions with active ingredients, you could start with products with smaller amounts of niacinamide and go up from there.
While it is recommended to get up to 16 milligrams of niacin, it may be safe for most people to take niacinamide supplements in doses less than 35 milligrams per day. Talk to your doctor first before taking niacinamide supplements and ask how much is safe and beneficial for you.
Niacinamide Side Effects
When you take niacinamide by mouth in very high doses, about 900-1500 milligrams a day, you might have side effects like:
- Gas in your stomach
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Rash
- Stomach discomfort
Most people can use products with niacinamide on the skin without having any side effects. But in rare cases side effects can occur. Possible side effects include:
- Itching
- Mild burning
- Redness
- An allergic reaction
Takeaways
Niacinamide is a powerful ingredient that can make your skin healthier and help with many skin problems. It's safe to use, and you can easily add it to your morning and nighttime skin care routine. If you're usually sensitive to new skin care products or ingredients, use niacinamide products with lower doses at first before using those with higher strengths of niacinamide. If you have any reaction to niacinamide, stop using it and see a dermatologist. Before taking niacinamide supplements, talk to your doctor.
FAQs on Niacinamide Uses for Skin
What does niacinamide do for your skin?
Niacinamide improves the health, appearance, and feel of your skin. It also helps treat many skin concerns, such as acne, psoriasis, hyperpigmentation, and eczema.
How long does it take for niacinamide to work?
Niacinamide could take up to 4 to 12 weeks to work on your skin.
Is it OK to use niacinamide every day?
Yes, you can use niacinamide every day without any reactions or skin problems. Regular use may make it work better and faster.
Can I put niacinamide on a popped pimple?
You can put niacinamide on a popped pimple. It helps treat and fade acne scars. Be sure to cleanse first before applying niacinamide.
Is niacinamide good for dry skin?
Yes, niacinamide is good for dry skin because it hydrates the skin and keeps it looking and feeling healthy. It is also suitable for people with sensitive skin.
