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Niacinamide sounds like a beauty brands chemistry-lab invention (just us?
Anna Efetova / Getty Images
), but the increasingly popular skin-care ingredient is actually just aform of vitamin B3.
Niacinamide benefits on the other hand?
Or maybe you already grabbed aproduct with niacinamideoff the Sephora shelf without 100% certainty of its potential perks.
If you arent quite sure what niacinamide is or what its doing in yourmoisturizer, youre not alone.
Heres what you should know about niacinamide benefitsand how to use niacinamidebefore adding it to your skin-care routine.
What is niacinamide?
As such, deficiencies arent common in the U.S., according to Dr. Amin.
And then theres niacinamide, the vitamin B3 compound.
Its often touted to help manage acne, rosacea, pigmentation issues, and wrinkles.
But is there any science behind those claims?
What does niacinamide do for your skin?
If niacinamide is involved in most important cell functions, then theres nothing it cant cure, right?
The study focused on people who had experienced skin cancer beforenot the general public.
So, there is some evidence that oral niacinamide can be helpful for skin health in this specific situation.
But is topical niacinamide helpful too?
Niacinamides anti-inflammatory properties make it an attractive treatment for skin conditions marked by inflammation, likeacne.
But there are a few studies.
Which ingredients can you combine with niacinamide?
Based on the available evidence, well-studied options likeprescription retinoids(and sunscreen!)
Niacinamide works in a similar way with salicylic acid, which can also be drying to your skin.
How do you use niacinamide in skin care?
Some people experience some mild irritation, whichwill likely go awaywith repeated use.
Amin suggests a concentration of 5% to see any anti-aging or hyperpigmentation improvement.
Some dermatologists feel that topical niacinamide is overall more effective.
Exceeding that could result in liver toxicitysymptoms include skin flushing and/or tingling, nausea, and vomiting.
That said, people with allergic tendencies may experience a flushing reaction due to histamine release.
