What is it?

Niacinamide is a versatile ingredient that is able to address a variety of skin concerns. It is an advanced anti-ageing ingredient that helps reduce inflammation, blemishes & discolouration and increases skin barrier functioning and fatty acids of the skin.  It is a water-soluble vitamin which is also known as nicotinic amide, the amide compound of vitamin B3. Naturally occurring, it can be found in foods such as meats, grains, beans, nuts, tuna, brown rice and many other foodstuffs.

What is it used for?

Incorporating niacinamide or vitamin B3 as part of a healthy balanced diet is encouraged by Dr Webster, but he also goes onto to say:

“Niacinamide is becoming an increasingly popular ingredient in leave-on skin care such as topical creams and serums together with acne treatments. This is due to its ability to treat certain skin conditions with minimal side effects. It is also a good anti-ageing ingredient that helps to repair sun damaged skin. It is capable of increasing levels of fatty acids in the skin and giving stability to the skin barrier helping to reduce transepidermal water loss. Thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties it is particularly effective for conditions such as acne and hyperpigmentation”

Niacinamide can also be taken in the form of oral supplements to treat acne.

What else can it do?

In the treatment of acne, niacinamide can not only reduce the inflammation associated with existing blemishes. As a cell-communicating ingredient it speeds up cellular turnover improving skin tone and elasticity for a resurfacing effect. In skincare, where dosage is controlled, niacinamide has little to no known side effects and is stable in both heat and light. Some research on niacinamide has suggested that it protects skin against the sun but, whilst it is a great ingredient to include in your skincare regime, proper broad-spectrum sun protection should still be used every day. At the correct percentage, niacinamide has been shown to help deep pigmentation.

Which products contain it?

A full-list of products on Dermastore® containing this advanced ingredient can be found here.