I have received many responses and inquiries regarding niacinamide and its relationship to niacin in topical skin care.  Without me even noticing, my favorite active skin care ingredient, NIACINAMIDE, has gone POPULAR!! WOW!!  Everywhere I look online there are products and research supporting the benefits of this supercharged skin care ingredient.

Chemical names are confusing, so which of the B3 vitamins (Currently on the market as Niacin, of which niacinamide, my favorite, is a DERIVATIVE or AMIDE of) are more effective topically?  It is hard to say because each user’s skin reacts differently to each active ingredient and what may work for one doesn’t necessarily work on someone else.

I personally favor niacinamide not just due to my own research but more for my personal usage experience.  While I try to maintain a balanced skin care regimen including everything from more acidic AHAs and vitamin C concoctions, to mid-level acidity (salicylic acid, BHA, most essential fatty acids, essential oils, herbal extracts, and some fruit acids), to higher pH ingredients like copper peptide and benzyol peroxide, such an orchestra of active skin improving chemicals cannot outshine the performance of niaciniamide alone, at least on my face!

Obviously I advocade including as much a variety of antioxidants and beneficial ingredients in skin lotions (as I am a strong believer, advocate, and practitioner of synergistic potency of chemically active substances, which are mostly found in blends and naturally occurring compounds); however, every time I feel that my skin is deteriorating, a simple home made niacinamide mask gives the feeling and appearance and the peace of mind that my skin starts improving… almost immediately.  It could be a great case of mind over matter, but I just can’t stop raving about niacinamide!

If you need a less subjective endorsement or comparison of Niacin vs. Niacinamide, perhaps the most apparent research phenomenon is that most of the documented research on Niacin is for HEART and bodily health (because it is proven to dissolve bad cholesterol and lower serum LDL levels) and not so much for topical skin care or improvement of SKIN CONDITIONS.

I have copy and pasted a RESEARCH ABSTRACT below, if you’re interested in reading more research articles on Niacinamide’s topical applications and skin care functions, please visit this link: http://www.skingeek.com/database-list-of-niacinamide-research-abstracts-for-skin-health/

http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/119193249/abstract?CRETRY=1&SRETRY=0

Niacinamide: A B Vitamin that Improves Aging Facial Skin Appearance

Bissett Donald L., PhD ¹ , Oblong John E., PhD ¹ Berge Cynthia A., BS ¹

  ¹ The Procter & Gamble Company, Miami Valley Laboratories, Cincinnati, Ohio

 Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Donald L. Bissett, PhD, The Procter & Gamble Company, Miami Valley Laboratories, 11810 East Miami River Road, Cincinnati, OH 45252, or e-mail: bissett.dl@pg.com.

This work was presented in part at the International Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology meeting in Beijing, China, December 2003, and at the American Academy of Dermatology annual meeting in Washington, DC, February 2004.

Copyright 2005 American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, Inc.

ABSTRACT

Background. In multiple chronic clinical studies, topical niacinamide (vitamin B3) has been observed to be well tolerated by skin and to provide a broad array of improvements in the appearance of aging facial skin (eg, reduction in the appearance of hyperpigmentated spots and red blotchiness).

Objective. To clinically determine the effect of topical niacinamide on additional skin appearance and property end points (wrinkles, yellowing, and elasticity).

Methods. Female white subjects ( N = 50 ) with clinical signs of facial photoaging (fine lines and wrinkles, poor texture, and hyperpigmented spots) applied 5% niacinamide to half of the face and its vehicle control to the other half twice daily for 12 weeks (double blind, left-right randomized). Facial images and instrumental measures were obtained at baseline and at 4-week intervals.

Results. Analyses of the data revealed a variety of significant skin appearance improvement effects for topical niacinamide: reductions in fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness (yellowing). In addition, elasticity (as measured via cutometry) was improved. Corresponding mechanistic information is presented.

Conclusion. In addition to previously observed benefits for topical niacinamide, additional effects were identified (improved appearance of skin wrinkles and yellowing and improved elasticity).

ALL OF THE AUTHORS ARE EMPLOYED BY THE PROCTER & GAMBLE COMPANY, WHICH FUNDED THIS STUDY.