In short
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3.
What it is1
In skin products, niacinamide is mostly used at 4 to 5%.
Boo YC. Mechanistic Basis and Clinical Evidence for the Applications of Nicotinamide to Control Skin Aging and Pigmentation. Antioxidants 2021
Worth knowing4
Niacinamide and similar compounds have been studied for acne, psoriasis, wound healing and problems with skin pigmentation.
Boo YC. Mechanistic Basis and Clinical Evidence for the Applications of Nicotinamide to Control Skin Aging and Pigmentation. Antioxidants 2021In one trial of eighteen women with brown spots, a moisturizer with 5% niacinamide used twice daily for 8 weeks reduced the area of brown spots more than the same moisturizer without it.
Boo YC. Mechanistic Basis and Clinical Evidence for the Applications of Nicotinamide to Control Skin Aging and Pigmentation. Antioxidants 2021In another trial, 5% niacinamide reduced brown spots more than a plain moisturizer after 4 or 8 weeks, 2% did not, and the effect faded after the product was stopped.
Boo YC. Mechanistic Basis and Clinical Evidence for the Applications of Nicotinamide to Control Skin Aging and Pigmentation. Antioxidants 2021Niacinamide is well tolerated by the skin at the concentrations normally used (under 5%), though skin reactions vary from person to person.
Boo YC. Mechanistic Basis and Clinical Evidence for the Applications of Nicotinamide to Control Skin Aging and Pigmentation. Antioxidants 2021
See a provider if1
If a product with niacinamide causes severe side effects, see a doctor.
Boo YC. Mechanistic Basis and Clinical Evidence for the Applications of Nicotinamide to Control Skin Aging and Pigmentation. Antioxidants 2021
Sources
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