Niacinamide, also known as vitamin B3, is a vitamin found in many different foods, including eggs, milk, beans, and green veggies. In skincare or supplement form, it’s often used to treat inflammation in the skin. But compared to ingredients like vitamin C and retinoids, niacinamide doesn’t get as much love despite its effectiveness. So, what can vitamin B3 do for anti-aging power?

Skin Barrier Repair

Vitamin B3 as an anti-aging ingredient is quite popular in cosmetics. Niacinamide is the most researched (and potentially effective) form of vitamin B3.

The ingredient is well-known for its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties. While it sinks into the stratum corneum (the outermost layer of your skin), it doesn’t cause much irritation. In fact, you can use products with up to 5% niacinamide with little to no redness or inflammation. This is unlike other forms of vitamin B3, such as nicotinic acid, which tend to cause much redness.

One of the greatest benefits of niacinamide is that it promotes a healthy skin barrier. It helps create fatty acids and lipids that help your skin maintain moisture and keep environmental toxins out.

For aging skin, a healthy skin barrier is even more important. Mature skin can be thinner and drier, which leaves it more sensitive and vulnerable to irritation.

Sun Damage

Niacinamide is great for reducing signs of sun damage, such as dark spots and creases. It works to inhibit tyrosinase (an enzyme). Too much tyrosinase can lead to an overproduction of pigment in certain spots in the skin, leading to hyperpigmentation.

It can also help reduce the appearance of sallowness, fine lines, and wrinkles in the skin after sun damage.

Acne

Acne isn’t limited to just teenagers — adult acne is certainly a real and frustrating occurrence for many. If you have severe acne, your dermatologist may ask you to go on oral antibiotics or other medications. But when you don’t tolerate antibiotics well, your next option may be to take niacinamide orally. Niacinamide supplements are especially great because they have little to no major side effects.

Skin Tolerance

Certain ingredients, such as sodium laurel sulfate (SLS) or retinoids, can be irritating to the skin, depending on the product formulation. Retinoids, in particular, are notorious for causing irritation, especially for those with sensitive skin — they include antioxidants like retinol, retinal, and retinoic acid. SLS is an ingredient used in cleansers, which some individuals do not tolerate well.

However, niacinamide can help your skin better tolerate these ingredients. For example, since retinoids can cause skin barrier damage in the short-term, vitamin B3 for anti-aging can help repair that barrier to reduce inflammation.

What Will Your New Anti-Aging Routine Look Like?

Niacinamide is a wonderful addition to your routine, which can help with various skin concerns at once, making it a great multi-use ingredient.

Looking for a more intense anti-aging treatment? Cell therapy and facial peels are two great options to consider. For more information, call our ICBR office at 1-800-826-5366.