Niacinamide is one of the lesser-known names when it comes to skincare ingredients but this is a big mistake, in fact, you might not even be aware that niacinamide exists and how beneficial it can be for your skin.
Stay with us you’ve heard of vitamin B3, aka niacin and you’ve probably seen mentions of its partner in crime, niacinamide, in articles on acne, rosacea, and other inflammatory skin conditions but what is it? Where does it come from? And is there any truth to the claims made about its effect on our skin? Let’s find out.
What is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 that can be found in foods such as avocados, peanuts, chickpeas, and mushrooms, in fact, it’s so ubiquitous in our diet that we are able to make it in our bodies.
Niacin, however, is not the same as niacinamide, niacin is, as the name suggests, a form of vitamin B3 that can be found in foods such as turkey, salmon, and tuna plus it is also a component of niacinamide.
Niacinamide is also a form of vitamin B3, but it is different from niacin in that it is created in the body as well as niacinamide is the form of vitamin B3 that is found in cosmetics, dietary supplements, and skincare products.
Why is it an Important Addition to the Skincare Arsenal?
Vitamin-rich ingredients such as the B vitamins, vitamin C and retinol, are notorious for their ability to fight the causes of acne, they can reduce inflammation and help to prevent bacteria from overgrowing in your skin pores.
They can also help to reduce excess oil and oiliness in the skin, keeping your breakouts at bay, vitamin C, for example, has been shown to reduce acne in clinical trials.
The main reason for this is that it helps to reduce excess oil and combat the production of excess oil, vitamin C is also an antioxidant, so it helps to neutralize the free radicals produced by bacteria that can cause acne.
Vitamin C and similar ingredients are not the only ones that can combat acne while niacinamide is an ingredient that you should also include in your routine if you have acne-prone skin.
Clinical Trials for Niacinamide for Acne Sufferers
Niacinamide has been used in skincare products for many years, and there have been numerous clinical trials done on it, these trials demonstrate that niacinamide can reduce acne and help to prevent acne breakouts.
In one study, participants were given either a niacinamide cream or a placebo cream all participants were treated for 6 weeks, and the researchers assessed their skin condition before and after the treatment period.
They found that, after the trial period, those in the niacinamide group had had a significant improvement in their skin condition, as demonstrated by a reduction in acne and oil production.
Another study looked at the effect of nicotinamide, or benefits of niacinamide, on acne-prone skin the researchers split the participants into 2 groups, giving half a niacinamide cream and the other half a placebo cream.
The participants were assessed at the beginning and end of the trial and were given a questionnaire to assess the condition of their skin an individuals in the niacinamide group had significantly better skin than those in the placebo group.
Niacinamide has been used in skincare products for many years, and there have been numerous clinical trials done on it, these trials demonstrate that niacinamide can reduce acne and help to prevent acne breakouts.