Niacinamide

A member of the Vitamin B3 family, Niacinamide or Nicotinamide is a water soluble vitamin. It is one of the key ingredients in skincare products and cosmetics known to reduce pigmentation, strengthen skin barrier, regulate oil production and enhance overall skin texture and tone. Niacinamide is highly recommended by skin care professionals and dermatologists across the globe for the multitude of benefits it offers.

Research shows that Niacinamide is highly tolerant on all skin types. It has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Studies also show that Niacinamide has antimicrobial properties that makes it effective against bacteria and biofilm formation. Not only this, Niacinamide helps build keratin that helps maintain skin health. It can very well be paired with other ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, retinol, zinc, and vitamin C to address multiple skin concerns.

Niacinamide, according to multiple studies, has come out as one of the hero ingredients in corrective and preventive skincare. It is the top choice for anyone who is looking for a brighter and clearer skin without overcomplicating their skincare routine.

Skincare Benefits of Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a game-changing ingredient for your skin. It strengthens, brightens and repairs your skin. It also helps in slowing down multiple signs of skin aging. Find out more skincare benefits of Niacinamide below:

1. Helps in Regulating Sebum Production

For people with oily skin, sebum production is a huge problem. Their skin tends to break out because of clogged pores and there is a greasy sheen which leads to acne. Niacinamide helps prevent excess sebum production by reducing inflammation around the sebaceous glands, normalizing oil output in the skin and preventing overproduction of lipids. A study showed that applying 2% Niacinamide moisturizer on Japanese skin for 4 weeks showed reduced Sebum Excretion Rate; hence clear evidence on the effectiveness of Niacinamide on regulating sebum production.

1. Fortifies Skin’s Protective Layer

Many studies have proven that Niacinamide plays an important role in strengthening skin’s protective barrier and prevents moisture loss. It helps in stimulating production of ceramides by activating serine palmitoyl, a key enzyme for ceramide production. Not only this, Niacinamide aids in building keratin, involucrin and filaggrin, vital proteins that form and maintain skin’s outer layer.

1. Helps Brighten Skin Tone

Exposure to sun for a long time, scars from those dreaded acne and inevitable hormonal changes can lead to dull skin tone. Niacinamide has amazing skin brightening properties. It obstructs transfer of melanosomes from melanocytes to keratinocytes, a mechanism responsible for skin color and pigmentation. When Niacinamide inhibits this process, it helps reduce skin pigmentation and helps with even skin tone. A study showed that a moisturizing cream with a combination of 2% Niacinamide and 2%Tranexamic Acid when applied with sunscreen showed reduced appearance of irregular pigmentation.

1. Helps with Redness and Inflammation

Niacinamide has the ability to suppress production of pro-inflammatory mediators like tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukins. This helps decrease skin inflammation and associated redness. Since Niacinamide strengthens skin barriers it results in preventing dryness and irritation. Clinical study published in Journal of American Academy of Dermatology proves that applying topical 5% Niacinamide helps reduce UV-induced redness.

1. Helps Reducing Fines Lines, Wrinkles and Signs of Aging

Another amazing skin benefit of Niacinamide is the antioxidant properties it holds. This protects skin cells from oxidative stress. It helps neutralize free radicals to prevent premature aging of skin and wrinkle formation. Since Niacinamide helps stimulate collagen synthesis in skin, it helps get rid of fine lines and maintain skin’s elasticity and firmness.

1. Helps DNA Repair Mechanisms

With so many benefits of Niacinamide already listed, this one is crucial. Niacinamide helps strengthen the human body’s natural DNA repair mechanisms. It elevates NAD⁺, a molecule that provides cell with energy required to repair DNA damage. Applying Niacinamide based skincare products help reduce chances of long-term sun damage, thereby, maintaining healthy skin.

1. Helps Improve Symptoms of Eczema

Eczema is caused by compromised skin barrier and dehydrated skin. Niacinamide based skincare products are a perfect solution. It enhances production of ceramides and essential lipids that improve skin’s barrier and improve moisture retention for reduced dryness and irritation, the primary characteristics of eczema.

How Microplastic Interferes with Niacinamide and Its Effectiveness on the Skin?

Skincare products often contain microplastics in the form of polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), or acrylates. These solid synthetic polymers are added as viscosity agents, emollients, film-foamers and in some countries, as exfoliants. With microplastics present in Niacinamide based skincare products, there are several limitations to the effectiveness of this powerful ingredient. Here’s what happens:

Microplastics form a layer over the skin which restricts the penetration of skincare products properly into the skin, physically blocking the contents of the products from complete absorption into the skin. Active ingredients like Niacinamide are therefore less efficient in their functionality and potentially alters skin’s interaction with the formulation of the products. Presence of microplastics also disrupts skin’s pH balance, leading to skin inflammation. 

How to Use Niacinamide?

Niacinamide is used in a range of concentrations from 2% to 10% in skin formulations. For those who have sensitive skin go for lower concentrations. Someone struggling with pigmentation, and oiliness generally go for higher concentrations. You can use Niacinamide once or twice in a day after using cleanser and toner, before heavy creams.

More than just a trendy ingredient, Niacinamide clinically proven to address skin issues for all skin types. With its ability to strengthen skin barrier, skin brightening, and improve skin texture, it deserves a place on skincare shelves around the world.