Niacinamide, a skincare ingredient in disguise, we haven’t heard about it much before, but now it’s making big appearances all around in skincare products.
The skincare addict that I had to get to the bottom of this new trending ingredient found in a lot of the big skincare brands. So, I had to go to the experts for some answers. I met up with Sara Blake, a pharmacist working with dermatologists for many years now and has vast experience in skin and skincare under her belt.
She was nice enough to give me time out of her busy schedule to answer some of my many questions to help us to understand why Niacinamide and if it is worth the hype.
Q: Wanted to start with one of the biggest questions, what is Niacinamide, for the people who are first hearing about it?
A: Niacinamide also called Nicotinamide is derived from Niacin which is a form of vitamin B-3, one of eight B-vitamins your body needs for good health. Niacin is converted to Niacinamide when it is taken in amounts greater than what is needed by the body. It is not usually synthesized in the body, so it needs outside sources, meaning supplements or food. They are easily dissolved in water and are well-absorbed when taken by mouth and are usually excreted easily.
Q: Does that mean that Niacin is the same Niacinamide?
A: They are similar since they are derived from each other but they differ when it comes to benefits and side effects.
Niacinamide has benefits related to skincare and skin cancer, also chronic kidney disease and type 1 diabetes. Usually, it is considered safe with few side effects at appropriate doses.
As for Niacin, it is used to lower cholesterol and the risk of heart disease. Higher doses of Niacin cause intense flushing or “heat” sensation to the face and upper body, usually right after taking it by 15-30 minutes.
So, you have to be careful about which supplements you are planning to take.
Q: Can we get a deeper understanding of the benefits of Niacinamide for the skin?
A: Niacinamide helps build keratin a type of protein that keeps your skin firm and healthy and can help your skin grow a barrier layer (ceramide), which helps retain moisture to the skin.
Many benefits consist of minimizing redness and blotchiness, minimizing pore appearance, protects against sun damage, treats hyperpigmentation and dark spots, treats acne and protects against oxidative stressors.
Q: What kind of foods are rich in Niacinamide?
A: That is a good question, there are usually some food you can incorporate more in your diet to obtain some of the benefits of Niacinamide
These foods are usually eggs, cereals, green veggies, beans, fish, and milk
However, there’s no way to guarantee that the nutrients in your diet are impacting your overall skin health. The only way to ensure that Niacinamide is targeting your skincare concerns is to use it topically or take supplements.
Q: Which form of Niacinamide is most effective, topically or orally?
A: When applied topically or taken orally as a supplement, Niacinamide has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on the skin, making it the ultimate savior for irritable and nuisance skin conditions, also making it a popular alternative to the topical antibiotic.
It was found in multiple chronic clinical studies, that topical niacinamide is well tolerated by the skin, which is a relief.
So, both of them are similarly effective, topical forms usually come in doses of 5% or less, but 5% is effective in treating hyperpigmentation and damage related to sun exposure. Oral supplements usually come in 500 mg dosing, speak to your doctor on which dose you should start taking accordingly.
Q: How should people use it?
A: It all comes down to product selection, our skin is smart and acts as a barrier to protect our bodies from any harmful stressors
Any topically formulations must be formulated in a way so that it can penetrate into the skin to where it’s needed, always look for B3 products with scientific studies to back them up and not just appealing ingredient lists.
It is preferably used in the morning and usually found in brightening products.
Recommended Products:
SkinCeuticals offers the Discoloration Defense. It contains 5% Niacinamide that will help you to get rid of the dark spots. Give it a try …
For more information about Niacinamide:
healtline.com
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Beauty talks over coffee 