What is niacinamide? What are the benefits for the skin? Possible side effects

You can use niacinamide to have smooth, clear and firm skin. In this article from Menomed, we have brought you everything you need to know about niacinamide.

What is niacinamide?

Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a water-soluble vitamin B3 that the body needs to maintain healthy skin. There are three types of vitamin B3, namely niacinamide (nicotinamide), niacin (nicotinic acid) and nicotinamide riboside. But of these three types of vitamin B3, niacinamide is the most used in skin care products, including eye creams, serums, and sunscreens.

Vitamin B3 is found in foods rich in niacin, such as eggs, milk, green leafy vegetables, fish, poultry, grains, nuts, and legumes. The body cannot produce niacinamide naturally, so in order to reap the benefits of this substance for your skin, you need to buy a skin care product that contains this vitamin.

Niacinamide is produced orally and topically. Its oral form helps you reduce anxiety, worry, facial acne and skin wrinkles.

In addition, niacinamide prevents skin cancer (melanoma). Over time, exposure to UV light (both from the sun and from tanning beds) damages the DNA of your cells and increases your risk of skin cancer. But oral niacinamide supplements treat DNA damage, while sunscreens containing the vitamin protect your skin against melanoma.

What is the benefit of niacinamide for the skin?

Studies show that niacinamide can potentially be a strong protective barrier for the skin. The use of topical products containing this vitamin prevents the reduction of skin moisture and, as a result, its dryness.

Niacinamine reduces skin inflammation, and because of its antioxidant abilities, it is one of the most popular ingredients used in most skin care product formulas. After using niacinamine for some time, you can clearly see the improvement of environmental damage to the skin, such as premature aging and darkening of the skin.

You can treat acne and psoriasis with products containing niacinamide. In fact, this substance works much better than oral or topical antibiotics to treat these skin problems.

Other benefits of niacinamide include the following:

• Effective in increasing keratin protein to maintain and keep the skin structure strong
• Skin oil regulator (this substance regulates the amount of oil secretion from the sebaceous glands, so your skin does not become too oily or vice versa)
• Skin care against oxidative stress (niacinamide helps the production of skin cells and protects the skin from damage caused by sunlight, pollution and various environmental toxins)
• The ability to remove dark spots on the skin (studies have shown that those skin care products that contain 5% niacinamide can remove dark spots on the skin and make the skin brighter and brighter than before).

How does niacinamide work in skin care?

When you use niacinamide regularly, your skin will look healthier and brighter. Although it is best known for its hydrating and skin brightening properties, it can reduce skin inflammation and redness and smooth out uneven skin texture.

Because niacinamide soothes the skin while minimizing wrinkles and unclogging large pores, it is suitable for people with acne-prone or aging skin.

By regulating the amount of oil secreted in the skin, niacinamide prevents acne and blackheads on the skin.

Can niacinamide be used for all skin types?

Products that use niacinamide are suitable for all skin types, including sensitive and blemish-prone skin and severely dry and flaky skin.

What products contain niacinamide?

There are various products on the market that use niacinamide in their skin care formula. These products include cleansers, lotions, facial toners, and creams. When using these products, be sure to pay attention to the method and instructions for their use.

Can niacinamide be used on the face as well as the body?

Niacinamide is used in most skin care products for the face and body and cares for the skin by hydrating and soothing the skin. Of course, when buying these types of products, be sure to pay attention to your skin type.

At what age should you start using niacinamide?

Because niacinamide has many benefits, it can be used and taken care of at any stage of life. Just as the skin of a young person uses this care product, the skin of elderly people can also benefit from the anti-aging properties of niacinamide. Niacinamide reduces wrinkles and darkening of the skin caused by aging.

In addition, niacinamide is very effective in making creatine. This protein can keep the structure of skin tissues strong and preserve the youth of the skin.

What are the side effects of niacinamide?

Taking too much niacinamide (either orally or topically) causes problems in the body. Its oral form may cause side effects such as stomachache, flatulence, confusion, headache and hives, and its topical form causes flushing, redness of the skin, itching and hives in the body. Since niacinamide leads to the release of more histamine in the body, some people may be allergic to it.

In addition, pregnant or lactating women should be careful when consuming this vitamin, whether oral or topical.

Niacinamide increases blood sugar, so if you have diabetes, you should be careful when using niacinamide.

The maximum allowed amount of topical niacinamide is 30 mg for people under 18 years of age and 35 mg for people over 18 years of age.

How to use products containing niacinamide?

To make sure you are not allergic to niacinamide, first apply a little of the product containing this substance on your arm and wait for 24 hours.

If your skin becomes red, itchy or swollen, wash the area immediately and stop using the product. Otherwise, you can use it for any part of your skin that you consider necessary.

When is the result of using niacinamide determined?

Most of the time, when using a skin care product, you may not see results for several weeks. But it is not possible to set a specific time. Usually, after 4 to 8 weeks of using this product, your skin becomes smoother, brighter and more moist.

But if you do not see any change in your skin for several months, be sure to consult a dermatologist. A dermatologist will guide you better in using the right products for your skin.

Can niacinamide be used with other skin care products?

One of the great benefits of niacinamide is that it is versatile and can be used in combination with other skin care products, such as retinol. For this reason, this substance is the best skin care routine product, even for sensitive skin.

Other studies have shown that niacinamide, along with copper, folic acid, and zinc, can treat acne. In addition, the use of hyaluronic acid together with niacinamide helps to absorb more niacinamide. The combination of vitamin C and niacinamide also helps to improve the condition of your skin.

Zinc is one of the best minerals that together with niacinamide can improve the condition of your skin and prevent damage to skin cells.

What are the benefits of zinc for the skin?

As we said, zinc can be used together with niacinamide. Zinc is actually a kind of mineral that alone has the following benefits:

• Heals skin injuries and acne
• Reducing skin inflammations (skin inflammations caused by diseases such as hives, psoriasis, and acne can be removed using zinc.)
• Protecting the skin from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation
• Having antibacterial properties
• Effective in collagen synthesis (zinc is a cofactor or co-agent that can play an effective role in collagen synthesis and DNA repair of skin cells, resulting in younger and healthier skin).

What is the best way to use the combination of niacinamide and zinc?

To use the combination of niacinamide and zinc, it is better to combine 10% niacinamide with 1% zinc. This combination can be an effective help in treating acne and psoriasis and put your skin in a better condition in general.

In addition, the combination of niacinamide and zinc is useful for oily and red skin. Use this combination twice a day, morning and night.

When using a product containing zinc and niacinamide, follow the procedure below:

1. First, clean your face completely with a mild cleanser. Before using this product, it is better to clean your face of excess fat and environmental pollution.

2. Then dry your face and put two drops of zinc and niacinamide mixture on your palm and gently spread it on your face. Be careful not to overuse this serum to avoid irritation, especially if you have sensitive skin.

3. Apply the serum all over your face, from your forehead to your nose, chin and cheeks, except for the thin skin around your eyes.

4. The combination of niacinamide and zinc is water based. Therefore, when using this product routinely, you should use this serum first and then go to other care products. So if you want to use a greasy product like vitamin E oil, apply it to your face after using the niacinamide and zinc serum.

Attention:

The best use of this serum is twice a day, in the morning and at night. Usually after 1 week, you will notice good changes in your skin.

Can niacinamide and vitamin C be used together?

In past reviews, the combination of niacinamide with vitamin C was considered inappropriate and it was believed that vitamin C destroys the effect of niacinamide. But new reviews consider this combination to be an ideal combination for improving and caring for the skin. Both niacinamide and vitamin C are powerful ingredients for skin protection. Therefore, you can use this combination to prevent skin aging, remove darkness and skin spots, reduce skin inflammations, and repair skin injuries.

See Niacinamide Acid Serums at DigiCala

last word

Routine use of niacinamide has a positive effect on the overall health of your skin. Therefore, put this product among your skin care products and enjoy its benefits. If you have any experience in this regard, we will be happy to share it with us.