What Is Niacinamide and Is It Really Worth the Hype?

Keeping up with the latest must-have skin-care ingredients can be difficult, but learning more about niacinamide is worthwhile. While this ingredient does not receive as much attention as other anti-ageing ingredients such as retinoids or glycolic acid, it is one of the best skincare ingredients.

You are not alone if you have never heard of niacinamide. However, it is a skincare ingredient that everyone should be aware of. Here’s what you need to know about Niacinamide, its benefits and how to use it. Read on to learn more about Niacinamide and whether it is worth the hype.

What is Niacinamide?

Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is a vitamin B-3 essential nutrient. This water-soluble vitamin works with your skin’s natural substances to visibly reduce enlarged pores, tighten lax pores, reduce dullness, soften fine lines and wrinkles, improve uneven skin tone, and strengthen a weakened surface.

Niacinamide can be found in various skin-care products, including sunscreen, moisturiser, night cream, and serum. Also, recently after many users started noticing the benefits of niacinamide for the body, many products are now available as Niacinamide body lotion. By regulating oil production, they prevent the sebaceous glands from going into overdrive. This helps you deal with back acne issues.

Benefits of Using Niacinamide Serum For Your Skin

1. Helps Lipid Barrier

Niacinamide helps our lipids retain water and moisture, resulting in the formation of a lipid barrier. The lipid barrier is located in the outer layer of our skin and is responsible for the appearance of hydration in our skin.

2. Reduces Wrinkles and Pores

Niacinamide promotes moisture and oil retention in the skin. These ingredients slow the skin’s ageing process and reduce wrinkles and fine lines. It also aids in pores reduction. Skin that has open or large pores may appear uneven and unclear. Furthermore, they may absorb more dust and infections. Niacinamide can help with both of these problems.

3. Reduces Hyperpigmentation

Niacinamide may help to reduce hyperpigmentation. As previously stated, niacinamide can aid in the reduction of skin unevenness caused by a variety of skin conditions. So it may help to create more even-toned skin. It can also help reduce blotchiness caused by skin disorders or acne.

4. Prevents Skin Cancer

A 2015 study randomly assigned 386 patients to receive either 500 mg of oral niacinamide twice daily or a placebo for a full year. Everyone in the study had at least two non-melanoma skin cancers in the previous five years, putting them at a high risk of developing another. The niacinamide group had 23% fewer new cases of skin cancer than the placebo group, according to the study.

5. Shields from the Sun

As an antioxidant, niacinamide assists our skin in forming a protective shield against the harmful effects of the sun.

6. Minimises fine lines

There is also evidence that Niacinamide may reduce some of the signs of sun damage associated with ageing.

How to Add Niacinamide to Your Skincare Routine?

Niacinamide comes in a variety of forms. Taking it as a supplement may help treat kidney disease as well as other body disorders besides skin woes.

For skincare, it is available in the form of serums, facewash, moisturisers etc. You can use it in both your morning and evening skincare routines. Including a face serum with Niacinamide as an active ingredient (preferably 10% or higher) can do wonders for your skin. You can buy niacinamide serum online or at a medical store near you.

Summing Up

Niacinamide, a type of vitamin B3, is a well-tolerated ingredient found in a variety of skin-care products for moisturising, brightening, and anti-acne purposes, among other things. Consider adding it to your skin-care routine with a product left on the skin to maximise absorption and have a concentration of less than 10% (for moisturiser or serum) and 10% in the case of body lotion.

Author Bio:

Adrija Chakraborty
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Adrija is a fitness freak who loves curating content around health and wellness to spread awareness, particularly around topics addressed explicitly to women. Her ultimate goal is to make the right information about women's health & wellness easily available and accessible to everyone.