10 Extraordinary Niacinamide Serum Benefits & Uses for Skin

Niacinamide is a big deal in the world of skin care. It is safe to use, has effective and sobering implications on the pigmentation, wrinkles and fine lines, you have to wonder what the big deal is. Well, if you haven't tried it yet, you are probably on the fence about whether or not you should give it a try.

After all, you have a lot of other options to try out. This article will help you make up your mind.

The scientific grounds also confer this amazing bioactive ingredient role in skin care. Basically, niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. It is a very essential vitamin that helps to convert food into energy via certain chemical reactions. Other than this, this vitamin prevents pellagra, improves kidney function and delays the onset of type-1 diabetes in high risk people.

Adding to this, niacinamide for skin is a well-known vitamin known over the years. It helps to maintain skin integrity, improves even toned skin, reduces fine lines, makes skin clear, brighter, supple and young. The vitamin does these changes to skin via its extraordinary properties.

Let's read 10 Niacinamide Serum Benefits & Uses For Skin to find more regarding niacinamide's role to make skin healthy and beautiful:

• 1. Prevents UV-induced Skin Damage
• 2. Reduces Hyperpigmentation
• 3. Maintains skin integrity & homeostasis
• 4. Control excessive sebum production
• 5. Treats acne
• 6. Provides anti-aging benefits
• 7. Improves skin barrier function
• 8. Reduces transepidermal water loss
• 9. Decreases yellowing of skin
• 10. Lowers the impact of blotchiness
• FAQs About Niacinamide

1. Prevents UV-induced Skin Damage

UV rays can be seriously harmful for our skin. Regular UV exposure for a longer time, either from direct sun rays or through tanning beds has proven to be harmful. It can lead to sun tan, sunburn and photoaging. Photoaging refers to the skin damage (pigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles) done by the prolonged exposure of UV rays.

Niacinamide has potential ability to repair the skin damage done by these rays. The vitamin done this by

• Repairing the done DNA damage

• Lowering the UV rays induced immunosuppression

• Mitigates UV-induced disrupted skin barrier permeability

Studies have also governed the activity of this vitamin. In a study published in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology, it has been seen that 5% niacinamide exhibits a significant role in lowering the UV-induced inflammation, barrier disruption and erythema.

2. Reduces Hyperpigmentation

This vitamin helps to keep your skin clear and even-toned. Topical niacinamide benefits in reducing dark spots and epidermal hyperpigmentation. Vitamin does this thing by reducing the melanosome (melanin-containing organelles) transfer to the surrounding keratinocytes (skin cells of the outermost layer of the skin).

This is supported by research where 5% niacinamide moisturizer is known to exhibit 35 to 68% restriction of melanosome transfer from melanocytes to keratinocytes.

To reduce dark spots, age spots and unevenness, you can use brightening cream and serums infused with this vitamin to get healthy brighter even-toned skin.

3. Maintains skin integrity & homeostasis

Our skin is exposed to environmental aggressors, especially UV rays and air pollutants. These aggressors trigger a cascade of molecular responses like oxidative stress, which ultimately change the homeostasis of the skin. This can be identified by the nucleotide energy metabolites (NAD+ and ATP) depletion.

NAD+ found to be more dynamic than previously believed. It plays a significant role in upkeep of mitochondrial efficiency, cellular metabolism regulation and circadian rhythmicity. To maintain the balance of all these processes, normal levels of NAD+ are very essential and niacinamide is the primary precursor of NAD+.

Furthermore, niacinamide can also prompt autophagy (the body's way of cleaning out damaged cells) in the epidermal keratinocytes under normal growth states.

Therefore, it can be said that niacinamide for skin is essential. The regular use of niacinamide via topical means can be really effective to keep skin supple and strong.

4. Control excessive sebum production

Studies also revealed that niacinamide can control excessive sebum production and reduce the size of enlarged open pores.

In a study done on 100 subjects, topical 2% niacinamide is known to reduce the sebum excretion considerably following two and four weeks of use. Therefore, this vitamin in its topical form can be proven to be very beneficial for oily skin care.

5. Treats acne

The problem of mild to moderate acne can also be managed with niacinamide use. Its role in sebum control and maintenance of oily skin helps in lowering the risk of breakouts. Other than this, this vitamin is also known to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, which is significantly beneficial for papular as well as pustular acne.

According to findings, it has been seen that gel containing 4% niacinamide is found to be very effective and safe in reducing the problem of mild to moderate acne, with prior improvements in pustules.

6. Provides anti-aging benefits

The wrinkles, fine lines and sagging of skin are the major signs of aging skin. The wrinkles mainly are the outcome of reduced epidermal cell layers, collagen synthesis and skin protein levels. Poor protein and collagen levels disrupt the structure of skin, reducing skin elasticity, hydration and epidermal barrier function.

Niacinamide has the ability to improve the dermal proteins (filaggrin, involucrin, keratin) and collagen. Also, this vitamin helps to maintain the normal levels of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which is essential to maintain skin hydration. This way, this vitamin can be the best choice to use as a topical anti-aging agent.

7. Improves skin barrier function

Niacinamide improves the skin barrier function via two mechanisms: first by improving the ceramide and other intracellular lipids synthesis and second by reviving the keratinocyte differentiation.

Ceramides and other lipids are the backbone of the skin structure. These two are very essential for proper skin structure and functioning. A study also confirmed that 2% of niacinamide for four weeks helps in the production of ceramides, cutaneous resistance and reduces transepidermal water loss, when applied topically.

Tanno et al have also shown the potential impact of topical niacinamide in improving keratinocyte differentiation and epidermal barrier function. Thus, this vitamin is very beneficial and should be included in skin care routine to strengthen the skin both internally and externally.

8. Reduces transepidermal water loss

Niacinamide by improving the skin barrier functionality and maintaining the levels of skin lipids, ceramides and proteins helps to lower the transepidermal water loss. This in turn keeps the skin moisturized and hydrated.

The topical use of niacinamide will significantly aid in keeping skin soft. This makes it worth your daily skin care regimen.

9. Decreases yellowing of skin

Yellowing of the skin happens as the result of aging. With age, proteins of the skin get glycated. This process is known as the Maillard reaction (a spontaneous oxidative reaction amongst sugar and proteins that leads to cross-linked proteins). These proteins start accumulating in the skin in response to such oxidative processes as we get old.

Topical application of niacinamide can help to increase or maintain the levels of NADH/NADPH. These are potent antioxidants which can hinder these oxidative processes, thus reducing the yellowing of the skin.

10. Lowers the impact of blotchiness

Blotchy skin is characterised by skin with discoloration of blue, red or purple color. These are due to the tiny blood vessels near the skin. In this condition, these become larger and more visible. This results in unevenness and blotchiness of the skin.

Niacinamide by improving the skin barrier function can improve this problem as increased barrier function results in less irritation and redness of the skin.

Sum Up

Niacinamide benefits and uses for skin have an extensive list. This vitamin improves skin barrier function, evens skin by reducing yellowing and hyperpigmentation of the skin and rejuvenates the skin by strengthening skin proteins and collagen levels. You must choose skin care products that contain this ingredient.

If you still have some doubts about this skin-friendly ingredient, these FAQs can help you out:

FAQs About Niacinamide

Q. What does niacinamide do to the skin?

Ans. Niacinamide improves skin integrity, strengthensskin barrier structure and function, controls excessive oil production, reduces acne, wrinkles, hyperpigmentation and fine lines. It is a powerpack skin care ingredient, which leaves your skin soft, hydrated, supple and young.

Q. What is niacinamide used for?

Ans. Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3. It is used to prevent and manage niacin deficiency. This helps to prevent certain health problems, including pellagra, dementia, tongue swelling/redness and diarrhea. Other than this, it is used to keep skin radiant, brighter and younger.

Q. Does niacinamide lighten skin?

Ans. Niacinamide hinders the transfer of melanosomes from melanocytes to keratinocytes. This significantly helps to even tones and brightens the skin.

Q. Can I use niacinamide everyday?

Ans. Niacinamide is safe and well-tolerated and can be used everyday. It is suitable to all skin types. Just make sure you are not using it along with other treatments like retinol or some OTC skin treatment. You can add skin care products embedded with niacinamide in your morning and night skin care routine.