Is niacinamide vitamin B3?

What is the difference between niacinamide and niacin?

Niacin supports the digestive system, skin and nerves, and helps turn food into energy. Niacinamide is the form commonly used in skincare. Oral niacin used for cholesterol treatment can cause flushing: warmth, redness, itching or tingling. Oral niacinamide does not cause that flushing, but high doses can still cause adverse effects. Ask a healthcare professional before starting vitamin B3 supplements rather than treating a skincare ingredient and a tablet as interchangeable.12

What does niacinamide do for skin?

Topical niacinamide can improve the skin barrier, the outer layer that limits moisture loss and protects against irritants. It also has anti inflammatory effects and can improve uneven pigmentation, fine lines and redness. Niacinamide comes in cleansers and moisturizers as well as serums, so a new bottle is not an entrance fee.13

Expect changes over weeks, not immediately. A 2% niacinamide moisturizer reduced facial oil production over four to six weeks in a clinical trial. Studies of 4% and 5% formulas found improvements in wrinkles or other signs of skin ageing over eight to twelve weeks. Niacinamide does not act as sunscreen or prevent sunburn.1

How do you use niacinamide?

1. 1Start with a low concentration if your skin is sensitive. Most skincare products contain 5% niacinamide or less.
2. 2For a patch test, apply a small amount to your forearm and wait 24 hours before wider use.
3. 3Use niacinamide after gentle cleansing, once or twice daily. A serum can be applied after moisturizer or combined with moisturizer.
4. 4If twice daily use of a niacinamide acne gel causes excessive dryness, reduce application to once daily or every other day.

Niacinamide can be paired with vitamin C, retinol, hyaluronic acid or moisturizers containing ceramides. Avoid using too many products containing niacinamide at once. A dedicated niacinamide serum is optional, not a vacancy that every bathroom shelf must fill.3

Niacinamide is generally well tolerated, including by some people who cannot tolerate retinoids or fruit acids. Rare reactions include itching, mild burning, redness and allergy. If those develop, stop using the product rather than continuing through irritation.13