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What Does Niacinamide Do For Skin? Benefits & How To Use

Everybody is talking about it, but what does niacinamide do for the skin?

Niacinamide is an active form of vitamin B3, and if you are interested in skincare, you have already heard about it.

It is possible to use niacinamide in many skin care treatments such as anti-aging, brightening spots, and evening skin tone.

 

To get the benefits of niacinamide, simply include serum or cream in your daily skincare routine that contains vitamin B3 in the formula.

In this article, let’s get to know more about niacinamide:

What is Niacinamide?

What Does Niacinamide Do For Skin?

Niacinamide is a soluble vitamin (in water) known as vitamin B3.

It is fantastic for skin hydration and improves the synthesis of natural skin ceramides.

You can find it in various forms, including in cosmetics and aliments. 

What are the benefits of Niacinamide?

As an essential vitamin of the complex B, Niacinamide contains many benefits for the skin.

For example, it can stimulate cellular renovation, uniform the skin tone, is an antioxidant, prevent premature aging, and controls oleosity.

Nowadays, we can find niacinamide in many different cosmetics.

It is ideal for those who want to clear skin spots and scars. 

Different eye creams use vitamin B3 in their composition to clear and prevent dark circles.  

If you have oily skin, niacinamide can be a great friend because it reduces the excess oil and prevents acne.

Are you looking for an anti-aging treatment? vitamin B3 can help you with this as well.

It reduces fine lines, improves skin texture, evens skin tone, rejuvenates, and provides greater skin.

Many people like to combine niacinamide with hyaluronic acid and retinol to boost the anti-aging effects.

What does niacinamide do for skin?

What Does Niacinamide Do For The Skin?

In sum, Let’s take a look at some benefits in detail.

1. Hydration 

Niacinamide stimulates the synthesis of ceramides, fatty acids, keratin, and filaggrin, which retains the skin’s water leading to hydration. 

At the same time, it fortifies the skin barrier, preventing dryness and redness, improves skin texture, and renews the skin.

2. Oil Control

If you have oily and acne-prone skin, niacinamide will help you control oil excess and prevent acne. 

At the same time, it is anti-inflammatory, improves skin texture and large pores, and reduces sebum production.

3. Pigmentation Reduction

If you have scars and spots caused by hyperpigmentation, you can use niacinamide to prevent these spots from expanding.

Some people who have melasma have also reported that niacinamide was very effective in improving their skin.

4. Anti-aging

Different studies point to niacinamide’s efficacy in preventing and reducing signs of aging.

This occurs because vitamin B3 aids with collagen and elastin production.

After continuous use, your skin will look more radiant and rejuvenated.

5. Fights free radicals

The high antioxidant power is one of the main benefits of niacinamide. 

But this means that it works in the fight against free radicals – molecules that cause cellular oxidative stress and stimulate the lost collagen.

A study stated niacinamide would fight free radicals, protecting you against sun exposure and stress.

With this in mind, we can also say that niacinamide is an antioxidant, which leads to better skin texture.

Which consequently improves the appearance of wrinkles, expression lines, and skin elasticity, making it more vibrant and lit.

6. Protects Sensitive Skin

Niacinamide fortifies the skin barrier, making it more resistant. So invest in cosmetics with this ingredient if you suffer from sensitive skin and rosacea.

Who Can Use Niacinamide?

Niacinamide for the Skin

Niacinamide is ideal for every skin type, including sensitive skin and those with rosacea.

But we can also notice that oily skin lads will love this ingredient because it controls the oleosity of the skin.

Initially, there is no contraindication to the usage of this ingredient; however, if you notice it caused any irritation, certify if you don’t have any allergy to it.

If needed, perform a patch test before using it, or if you notice anything unusual, wash it with abundant water immediately. 

It is also good to remember that commercial cosmetics must contain a maximum dosage of 5%.

Niacinamide

Niacinamide For Acne

Acne is an inflammatory disease that can alter the skin barrier and causes excess oil on the skin. 

By affecting barrier function, vitamin B3 restores skin hydration when inflammatory diseases occur.

It also regulates sebum production, which treats the sensitivity of acne-prone skin and the anti-inflammatory effect of the disease.

How To Use Niacinamide On The Skin

After cleansing, you can use niacinamide serum alone (if you have very oily skin).

If your skin is drier, you can use it after cleansing and follow with your moisturizer.

Products that we want to have some penetration and action on the skin should be applied first. 

Then come the moisturizers, which can be placed on the outermost layer of the skin since that is where it must act.

You can make topical use of niacinamide daily, morning and evening. 

When you use it in the morning, remember to use sunscreen because the actives of vitamin B3 can make the skin more sensitive to the action of the sun’s rays.

​​It is essential to prepare the skin, sanitizing properly with soap suitable for the skin of the face. 

Then, you can use the facial toner or not remove makeup residue and excess oil.

Niacinamide for the skin

Actives can I combine Niacinamide

Niacinamide is an element that hydrates, illuminate, and clears the skin.

It can also reduce clear marks and restores the skin’s natural barrier.

You can mix it with other anti-aging elements, collagen boosters, and moisturizers that can potentialize its benefits.

Take a look at some possible combinations and how they can help improve your skincare routine:

How To Choose Niacinamide

For topical use, you can find a variety of cosmetics such as creams and serums.

Dermatologists recommend that the maximum concentration of niacinamide for topical use is 5%.

Topical Use Vs. Alimentation

You can acquire vitamin b3 both from topical use and by adopting a diet rich in the active.

For quicker results, many dermatologists recommend you to make topical use followed by a rich diet.

Vitamin B3 acts in the organism in positive ways, improving blood circulation, and can use in the form of supplements.

Here are some examples of food that contain Vitamin B3:

Niacinamide Sice Effect

Topical niacinamide is generally considered safe to use. 

People with preexisting allergies may be more likely to have an allergic reaction.

Do a patch test and consult the dermatologist before making your decision.

Questions & Answers

Does Niacinamide lighten the skin?

In addition to reducing skin hyperpigmentation, Niacinamide prevents blemishes.

When does niacinamide start to work?

The more debilitated the skin, the longer the results occur. However, you should be able to see the first sights of improvements in 15 days.

It is necessary to use the product continuously to feel the positive effects of the substance on the skin.

Can niacinamide help with melasma?

Yes, niacinamide can be very effective if you have melasma. However, ask your doctor before applying anything on your face in such conditions.

Usually, 5% niacinamide can reduce the excess pigmentation, regulating melanin production.

It acts on the skin, minimizing the intensity of the melasma and uniformizing the area.

Can Niacinamide Irritate The Skin?

In its synthesis, niacinamide has an impurity called nicotinic acid, which can irritate the skin. 

To avoid this, the input we buy should not contain more than 1000ppm of nicotinic acid because this can irritate the skin.

But, niacinamide itself does not irritate the skin.

Will niacinamide cause breakouts?

Usually, niacinamide won’t cause a breakout, but instead, it will hydrate and nourish your skin.

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