What is Niacinamide used for? Here are 10 benefits for the skin.

Known simply as Vitamin B3, Niacinamide plays a fundamental role in the protection of the skin barrier. Some describe niacinamide and its promising benefits for the skin as a wonderfully effective substance ideal for the health and beauty of the face. 

In fact, Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, as a water-soluble vitamin of the B group, is an essential nutrient. In fact, a deficiency of vitamin B3 can lead to disorders of the skin, kidneys, and brain. However, in addition to being a fundamental nutrient that can be taken in case of a deficiency of vitamin B3, topical niacinamide can help in the treatment of conditions such as acne and eczema. 

Today, in the cosmetic environment, this form of vitamin B3 has become so popular that it is part of various products aimed at combating skin aging and much more.

"Let's take a closer look at the main benefits of niacinamide and how this essential ingredient is used in the cosmetic field." 

What is niacinamide?

Niacinamide, also called nicotinamide, is a form of vitamin B3 or niacin. It is often found in supplements, skincare products, and foods. Vitamin B3 is an important antioxidant for cellular repair.

"Although they are similar in name, it is important to understand that niacin and niacinamide are not the same thing: they are actually two different types of vitamin B3. And even though the body can produce niacinamide from ingested niacin, a cosmetic product containing niacinamide has specific effects."

Niacinamide used in skincare products is a precursor to two very important coenzymes within the cells, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide or phosphate, NAD+ and NADP+. Both of these molecules are essential for the chemical reactions that cells, including skin cells, need to repair damage, reproduce, and function normally.

In this sense, niacinamide helps to invigorate cellular energy, repair damage to the skin DNA, and reduce the negative effects of exposure to UV rays, thus acting against most oxidative stress factors that can cause aging, such as spots and cellular decay.

In other words, we can say that the ability to potentially help the body create more NAD+ and, therefore, repair damage is the root of the potential skin care benefits of niacinamide, both in topical form and potentially as a supplement.

There is also evidence that topical niacinamide can increase the production of ceramides, lipids that help maintain the skin's protective barrier, and that it may contribute to the reduction of wrinkles, fine lines, and strengthening the skin's moisture barrier.

The benefits of niacinamide for the skin

1. Strengthens the lipid barrier

Niacinamide can help the skin grow the ceramide (lipid) barrier. This is a benefit for all skin types, both for eczema and for mature skin. Strengthening the barrier of fats and ceramides allows the skin to create a lipid film capable of defending the skin from external aggressions. In practice, niacinamide works by retaining the moisture of the skin and thus keeping it hydrated for a long time. Thanks to this property, niacinamide acts by regulating the amount of oil produced by the sebaceous glands. 

2. Reduces signs of acne 

Acting as a natural anti-inflammatory, niacinamide helps to alleviate the redness of eczema, acne, and other inflammatory skin conditions. In addition to topical preparations, oral niacinamide supplements have been shown to reduce inflammation associated with rosacea and mild to moderate acne, particularly when oral antibiotics are not an option. Furthermore, vitamin B3 has a high brightening and illuminating power that proves capable of reducing scars and acne marks.

3. Ideal for the treatment of hyperpigmentation

Some research has found that concentrations of 5% niacinamide can be helpful in lightening dark spots. This benefit may be due to an increase in collagen production. Niacinamide may improve hyperpigmentation by reducing the transfer of cells that cause pigmentation, called melanocytes. Although there is currently no research specifically on the effectiveness of niacinamide in general on melanin-rich skin, it is likely that it would be able to reduce sun damage and dark spots due to its ability to reduce melanin production. 

4. Protects from oxidative stress

Niacinamide helps to build skin cells while simultaneously protecting them from environmental stresses, such as sunlight, pollution, and toxins. The antioxidant power comes from niacinamide's ability to assist coenzymes in the transport of oxygen. 

5. Reduces fine lines and wrinkles 

The appearance of fine lines and wrinkles has also been found to be reduced by studies conducted with niacinamide. Vitamin B3 has antioxidant properties and is able to counteract free radicals that form due to skin oxidation caused by external factors and an unbalanced diet. The skin's metabolism is thus restored, and consequently, aging is prevented. The photoprotective and anti-inflammatory properties are beneficial for the nerve endings of the skin. For this reason, it is used in products such as specific serums for the eye area, where wrinkles become more pronounced. 

6. Helps in the production of keratin

The passage of time slows down the production of essential proteins such as keratin, filaggrin, and involucrin, resulting in a loss of elasticity and the appearance of the first wrinkles. Vitamin B3 is a valuable ally for the production of collagen and keratin, thus improving the overall appearance of the skin.

7. Protects from sun damage 

Niacinamide can simultaneously rebuild healthy skin cells while also protecting them from damage caused by ultraviolet rays.

8. Soothing properties 

Niacinamide can be a fundamental ally not only for acne-prone or oily skin but also for sensitive skin, rosacea, and skin suffering from contact or atopic dermatitis. Vitamin B3 indeed soothes the erythema and redness typical of delicate skin. 

9. Improves skin texture 

Regular use of niacinamide-based products allows the skin texture to restore itself by correcting small imperfections and reducing the appearance of enlarged pores. In this sense, impurities will also have less opportunity to settle and cause irritation. 

10. Promotes hydration

The ability of niacinamide to retain moisture allows for the regulation of the skin's fats and oils, also enhancing the moisturizing effect. This is because the invisible film of fats on the skin is the key to skin hydration. 

Niacinamide in daily skincare

LeLang has perfected some formulas capable of amplifying the beneficial effects of topical niacinamide. By incorporating the Eye Contour Serum Formula Eyes Duo Peptide + Caffeine into your daily skincare routine, it will be possible to achieve a remarkable moisturizing effect in the area around the eyes. 

The serum, formulated with an ultra-effective botox like action, works through a base of biodynamic peptides to counteract the formation of bags and dark circles. The improvement in skin tone is immediate and the skin is smooth. A note of Vitamin B3 helps to maintain the hydration of the eye contour deeply. 

Niacinamide, in this case, is included in a product indicated for its anti-aging effect precisely in the area where wrinkles become more intense, giving a youthful and vibrant look.