In recent years, niacinamide has evolved as a key skincare ingredient in the beauty world. It’s greatly famed as a panacea for most skin woes right from worsened acne to stress. Some of its skin healing incentives include reverse signs of ageing, brightening skin complexion, soothing inflammation and redness, lower hyperpigmentation and hydrating and supporting the skin barrier.
What Is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a type of vitamin B3, that is water-soluble, which means it is not stored in the body and is essential to reload. Well, you can get niacinamides through the food we eat, but they are also a key element found in skin care products. Niacinamide is imbued with anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing, antioxidant, and skin-brightening qualities.
Also Read: Ceramides: Discover The Surprising Beauty Benefits Of This Fatty Acid
Niacinamide is one of the best-researched cosmeceuticals for anti-ageing and it has umpteen effects to help smoothen skin tone and texture. Topical niacinamide-containing beauty essentials have more healing benefits for the skin.
Read on to know about its benefits, and how to use niacinamide in your skin care regimen.
Skin Nurturing Benefits of Niacinamide
Niacinamide functions well to build proteins in the skin and lock in moisture to avert damage from environmental pollutants. Other benefiting properties include:
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Immunity: Niacinamide supports the production of keratin, a type of protein that maintains the skin firm and healthy.
Lipid barrier: This vital nutrient helps the skin to produce a ceramide (lipid) barrier, which works to retain moisture. This is extremely valuable for all types of skin, particularly if you have eczema.
Reduces Redness: Niacinamide lessens inflammation, which eventually eases redness due to eczema, acne, and other inflammatory skin problems.
Decreases Pore: It support in maintaining skin supple and hydrated and naturally diminishes pore size over a period.
Control Oil: Niacinamide can immensely function to regulate the amount of oil secreted by the sebaceous gland and avert glands from becoming clogged.
Sun Damage: This water-soluble vitamin revamps healthy skin cells, while also safeguarding the skin from damage caused by harmful UV rays.
Cures Hyperpigmentation: Several studies have found that niacinamide concentration (5%) is beneficial in lightening dark spots. This is due to the increased collagen production.
Fades Away Fine Lines: Niacinamide skin products are helpful in mitigating signs of sun damage. Additionally, it slows down signs of ageing, fade-out wrinkles and fine lines.
Prevents Oxidative Stress: It supports in the regeneration of new skin cells, while also shielding them from environmental triggers like sunlight, pollution, and toxins
Remedies Acne: Niacinamide is a sure shot remedy for severe acne, particularly inflammatory ones like pustules and papules. Using it in the long run you may feel lesser lesions and enhanced skin complexion.
Is Niacinamide Skin Products Preferable Over Natural Food Sources And Supplement?
Yes, eating a wholesome diet is the best possible way to meet your needs for vitamin B3. Also, one should take supplements only under healthcare provider advise to treat deficiencies. When it comes to skin health, one may get some of incentives of niacinamide from the food that you eat.
Food sources rich in vitamin B3 include:
- Eggs
- Cereals
- Green Veggies
- Beans
- Fish
- Milk
But there’s no way to assure that the nutrients in your diet are affecting your overall skin health. Thus, the best way to ensure that niacinamide is addressing your skin care concerns is to use it topically.
Niacinamide Skin Care Products
Basically, several ranges of niacinamide products come in the form of serums. It acts as additional treatments that focus on individual skin problems. Niacinamide serum should be applied after toning just before moisturising. A few cleansers and creams also contain niacinamide, and face masks. It is listed as niacin and nicotinamide on the product.
Niacinamide concentration may differ across products, though most formulations are 5% or less, these products are effective in curing hyperpigmentation and sun damage. For people with sensitive skin formulas with 2 % niacinamide may help alleviate symptoms of eczema and other skin woes.
Niacinamide can be used together with other active elements for best results. For instance, some studies suggest that supplemental niacinamide may work well alongside copper, folic acid and zinc to cure acne.
Also, you may be able to reap more out of niacinamide serum by using it along with hyaluronic acid, as it is known to increase product absorption.
Side Effects
Generally, topical niacinamide is considered safe to use. Those with pre-existing allergies are more prone to experience an allergic reaction. This is because niacinamide may cause the system to release histamine.
Well, you can avert allergic reactions and product sensitivities by doing a patch test:
- Smear a small amount of product on your forearm
- Wait for 24 hours
- If you experience redness, itching or swelling, rinse the area and never use it
