Niacinamide, or nicotinamide, is a type of vitamin B3. While more research is necessary, taking niacinamide may help reduce inflammation, improve skin elasticity, and more.
Preventing B3 deficiency is important because it can lead to disorders of the skin, kidneys, and brain. But there’s much more to niacinamide, especially when it comes to general skin health.
Read on to learn more about the possible benefits of niacinamide, what to look for in products, and more.
Overall, niacinamide can help build proteins in the skin and lock in moisture to prevent damage.
More research is necessary to understand the possible benefits in more detail.
Skin elasticity
Niacinamide
This could help improve skin elasticity.
Skin barrier
Some research suggests that niacinamide could help support the skin’s ceramide (lipid) barrier. The barrier can
Reduces inflammation
Niacinamide can help reduce inflammation, which may help ease redness or discoloration. This could help manage inflammatory skin conditions such as:
Regulates oil
Niacinamide may help regulate the amount of oil the sebaceous glands produce. This could be helpful for people with oily skin, though more research is necessary.
Rebuilds skin cells
Niacinamide may help rebuild healthy skin cells caused by damage from ultraviolet rays.
However, it’s still important to protect your skin when spending time outdoors, such as by wearing sunscreen and covering your skin when possible.
Skin appearance
Niacinamide can be helpful for treating skin hyperpigmentation or pigmentation disorders. It may also help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Protects against oxidative stress
Niacinamide helps build skin cells while protecting them from environmental stresses, such as sunlight, pollution, and toxins.
Treats acne
Niacinamide
Eating a balanced diet is the best way to get micronutrients like vitamin B3. You should only take supplements under medical supervision.
When it comes to general skin health, you may obtain some of the benefits of niacinamide from the foods that you eat.
Foods containing vitamin B3 include the following:
- fish
- meat
- eggs
- wheat flour
However, it’s impossible to guarantee that the nutrients in your diet are impacting your overall skin health. The only way to ensure that niacinamide targets your skin care concerns is to use it topically.
It’s best to contact a doctor before adding niacinamide products to your skin care routine.
Many topical niacinamide products come in the form of serums. Think of serums as extra treatments that address individual skin concerns outside of regular cleansing, toning, and moisturizing.
Some cleansers and creams also contain niacinamide.
Read each product label carefully and follow all instructions for use.
Niacinamide concentration can vary across products, though most formulations are 5% or less. Some reports suggest that 5% niacinamide can be effective in treating fine lines and wrinkles.
If you have sensitive skin, you may want to start with a lower concentration.
Niacinamide may be listed as “niacin” and “nicotinamide” on product labels.
Topical niacinamide is generally safe to use.
People with preexisting allergies may be more likely to experience an allergic reaction. This is because niacinamide can cause your body to release histamine.
To do a patch test before using the product:
- Apply a dime-sized amount of product on your forearm.
- Wait 48 to 96 hours.
- If you experience redness or discoloration, itching, or swelling in the area, wash the area and discontinue use.
- If you don’t experience any side effects, it should be safe to apply elsewhere.
As with any new skin care product, you probably won’t see any significant results immediately.
Although most of the available research looked at the use of niacinamide for around 4 to 12 weeks, there’s no exact timeline.
If you don’t see any changes within a couple of months, it may be time to consult with a dermatologist. They can assess your skin care routine and advise you on which products to use, any dietary changes that may improve your skin health, and more.
Despite the similarities in names, niacinamide isn’t the same thing as niacin. Niacinamide is the water-soluble form of niacin, or vitamin B3.
Topical niacinamide may have a positive impact on overall skin health. It helps reduce inflammation and hyperpigmentation, smooth fine lines and wrinkles, and more.
While more research is necessary, niacinamide could benefit conditions such as dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne.
You should not take niacinamide supplements unless your doctor or other healthcare professional recommends them. Speak with your doctor for more information about the possible benefits of niacinamide.