What Is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide is the water-soluble, active form of Vitamin B3. Niacinamide can be consumed orally and is naturally found in small quantities in yeast, lean meats, fish, nuts and legume. It can also be applied topically to the skin for a more concentrated solution for treating skin concerns and aliangé Skincare uses it in many of its formulas including the Hydrating B3 Serum and Soothing Day Cream SPF 15.
What Is Niacinamide Used For?
Vitamin B3 is essential for good health, is highly effective for treating a wide range of skin concerns and can benefit your complexion in several different ways:
- Anti-inflammatory properties, which may be used for the treatment of bullous (blistering) diseases
- Improves and reduces the occurrence of acne through anti-inflammatory action
- Reduces sebum, causing skin to be less oily and eliminates trapped oil and bacteria in the skin
- Improves skin barrier function by decreasing water loss through the epidermis (the outer skin layer) thus increasing skin hydration
- Improves complexion by improving the pigmentation, blotchiness and redness of ageing skin
- May reduce actinic keratoses and the risk of skin cancer, particularly squamous cell carcinoma
What Are the Benefits of Niacinamide?
Acne
Niacinamide is highly effective in clearing acne due to its anti-inflammatory properties. Niacinamide also reduces facial sebum production, which is responsible for facial shine and contributes to noninflamed comedones (blackheads and bumpy skin) and inflammatory acne lesions. These comedones occur when a plug of oil becomes trapped within the hair follicle near the pore opening, which can be prevented by a reduction in sebum production. Clinical trials in the cosmetic medicine field have found that applying a Niacinamide moisturiser such as the Hydrating B3 Serum will significantly reduce sebum production and clear facial shine and oiliness in just 4-6 weeks. Depending on your personal skin care needs, you can apply Vitamin B twice a day, once a day or every other day.
Rosacea
The clinical signs and symptoms of rosacea include increased facial skin dryness, redness and sensitivity. Skincare containing niacinamide improves skin barrier function in rosacea patients, increases the skin’s ability to protect itself and leads to diminished reaction to irritants including environmental factors and cosmetics.
Anti-Ageing
Niacinamide assists co-enzymes which play a role in the metabolism of glucose, cellular energy production, and synthesis of lipids. The effectiveness of these skin functions decrease with age and topical Vitamin B3 appears to reverse the decline. Niacinamide improves fine lines and wrinkles, hyper-pigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness (yellowing) as well as elasticity. It also increases the skin's production of ceramides, which are natural emollients and skin protectants, therefore improving skin hydration.
Anti-Cancer Effects
Ultraviolet radiation is the main risk factor for skin cancer development through direct damage to DNA and complex effects on the immune system. Niacinamide has been shown to enhance the repair of direct and oxidative DNA damage in human skin. It has the potential to prevent UV-induced immune suppression and reduce the mean number of precancerous actinic keratoses when used over extended periods of time.Please note: Niacinamide does not work as a sunscreen and does not prevent sunburn. It does not have antioxidant properties, but it may affect the complement cascade (fighting infection), cell energy metabolism, and apoptosis (normal cell death, breakdown and removal).
Vitamin B3 Skincare
Niacinamide is well tolerated and can often be used by those who cannot tolerate topical retinoids (Vitamin A) and acidic skincare (Vitamin C). aliangé Skincare offers a wide range of Niacinamide (Vitamin B3) serums and creams to provide the most benefit to your skin.
Hydrating B3 Serum is available as part of the Purity and Revitalize range to stimulate your skins immune response and reduce inflammation in the morning. The reduction of sebum and oil is effective in preventing blocked pores and can be worn under make-up.
Smoothing Serum and Lightening Serum can be used in the evening to repair the skin from environmental irritants your skin is exposed to throughout the day.
Combine the benefits of Vitamin B3 and Retinol (Vitamin A) with Vitamin A Night Lotion or Ultimate A Night Cream. Read more about the benefits of Vitamin A here.
