Introduction
Wondering what is this hype surrounding Niacinamide serum for face and skin? Is Niacinamide good for all skin types? The answer is yes.
Research has proven that Niacinamide provides relief from several skin issues for most skin types. Niacinamide serums for skin and face are now proven to give more clear, hydrated, and smoother skin after regular use.
But what does niacinamide serum do, and how does it act on the skin? Let us find out how this underrated vitamin can benefit your skincare routine.
What is Niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a type of vitamin B3. Vitamin B is generally obtained from meat, nuts, seeds, salmon, tuna, brown rice, fortified foods, pulses, and legumes.
Vitamin B3s are essential nutrients required for good skin health. Niacinamide is proven to tackle several skin problems and also reduces the risk of non-melanoma cancer of the skin. All these qualities of this nutrient make it a desired component of skincare.
Though oral intake may not be necessary, it is always recommended to discuss with your dermatologist if you want to take multivitamins or vitamin B3 supplements for your skin health.
How Niacinamide works on skin?
Most skin products containing Niacinamide for skincare are serums that are used between concentrations of 2% to 5%. Most studies have proved that Niacinamide serums work very effectively at a concentration of 2%. So what do these Niacinamide serums actually do for your face?
The main action of Niacinamide is that of a powerful antioxidant. Niacinamide for the skin is absorbed very well when applied topically. It helps produce essential skin substances like ceramides and collagen.
In a study, Niacinamide has also been found to form a skin barrier better than petroleum jelly hydration. In addition, the benefits of Niacinamide serum for face include improved hydration, reduced ageing signs, reduced pore size, and improved skin tone.
Most dermatologists recommend using Niacinamide for sensitive, dry, or acne-prone skin.
Benefits of Using Niacinamide Serum on Skin?
Why use Niacinamide serum? The nine significant Niacinamide serum benefits for skin are:
1. Improved skin hydration
Niacinamide helps to keep moisture within the skin by maintaining the lipid barrier and causing less transepidermal water loss. This enables the skin to be soft and supple for a longer period.
2. Reduced ageing signs like crow’s feet, fine lines, and wrinkles
Use of niacinamide serum for face helps decrease fine lines and wrinkles as Niacinamide helps produce collagen, essential to keep our skin healthy, glowing, and smooth of fine wrinkles.
Niacinamide has also been shown to stimulate ceramide synthesis. It speeds up the differentiation of keratinocytes and raises intracellular NADP (Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate ) levels (molecules with potent antioxidant properties). All of this helps to decrease the appearance of ageing lines on the skin.
3. Niacinamide serum benefits for the skin
Skin treated with Niacinamide shows cells getting tired and burned out at a much slower rate, causing better skin cells and increasing collagen turnover. The results of Niacinamide serum are clean, firm, and brighter skin.
4. Reduced skin discoloration
Niacinamide shields against sun damage and offers sun protection. Niacinamide demonstrates inhibition of carcinogenic photo effects on skin cells, which can be due to the ultraviolet rays of the sun. It also reduces melanin synthesis thus helping with hyperpigmentation and dark spots
5. Decreased inflammation in moderate acne
Niacinamide for face skin reduces inflammation. Niacinamide benefits for acne show a broad range of anti-inflammatory activities like inhibiting nuclear factors, reducing the production of inflammatory cytokines, preventing the degradation in mast cells, and restricting leukocyte migration in the skin.
All these steps help ease redness in conditions like acne, rosacea, and eczema. Unclogged pores and Niacinamide's pollutant barrier action also help resolve pustular acne.
6. Limits the production of excess sebum
This powerful vitamin regulates the oil production of skin. Niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that helps with blood circulation.
7.Reduced hyperpigmentation and sunspots
In clinical studies, Niacinamide showed 35-68% inhibition of melanosome transfer in the coculture and decreased cutaneous pigmentation.
Therefore, it was concluded that Niacinamide uses on skin reduces hyperpigmentation and enhances skin brightening after approximately four weeks of use. However, the obvious benefits are seen after regular use for 8-12 weeks.
8. Helps treat open pores
Niacinamide serums benefit the skin by increasing skin immunity against pollutants. It controls sebum production and prevents pores from getting clogged with excess oil and dirt. This prevents them from undue stretching and keeps their size small, making the skin look smoother.
9. Calms irritated skin in conditions like rosacea
It helps reduce skin water loss. Niacinamide serum uses include an anti-inflammatory action of mobilising cytokines to help calm down red and itchy skin.
You get overall healthy-looking skin due to all the above-mentioned benefits of Niacinamide serum for skin care.
Though Niacinamide is a mild skin product and is well-tolerated by most people, the side effects of Niacinamide serum may include redness, itching, and a burning sensation on topical application.
FAQs
Q1. Can I use Niacinamide serum every day?
Yes, Niacinamide serums for the face are mild enough to be used daily. They get along with most other active skin ingredients and are, therefore, safe to be used with other skin products.
Q2. How to use Niacinamide serum?
Ideally, it would help if you discussed with your dermatologist the use of Niacinamide face serum and the sequence of your skincare regime.
For regular skin, Niacinamide serum can be used as follows:
- Wash your face with a gentle cleanser.
- Pat dry the skin
- Take two drops of Niacinamide serum and apply it over the face or other part of the skin.
- Massage it into the skin until absorbed.
This can be done twice a day.
Q3. Is it ok to put moisturiser over Niacinamide serum?
Yes, it is okay to apply moisturiser over Niacinamide serums for increased hydration.
Q4. Can I mix hyaluronic acid with Niacinamide?
Yes, as Niacinamide is compatible with most skincare actives, it can be used with hyaluronic acid to increase skin hydration.
Q5. Does niacinamide brighten skin?
Clinical trials and studies showed decreased skin pigmentation after four weeks of Niacinamide serum use. It also helps clear sun damage spots, resulting in brighter-looking skin with an even tone.
Q6. Should I use Niacinamide in the morning or night?
Niacinamide serum for the skin is safe and mild enough to be used twice daily. For example, once in the morning and once at night before sleep.
Q7. What do you use after Niacinamide serum?
After applying Niacinamide serum, you can follow up with a moisturiser, or makeup if needed. A potent SPF should always follow all these steps (minimum SPF 30+).
Q8. How long does Niacinamide take to work?
Most Niacinamide serum results are clearly seen after 8-12 weeks of sustained use.
Q9. Is Niacinamide good for oily skin?
Niacinamide for skin has been shown to balance oil sebum levels. It also decreases inflammation, thus being beneficial for oily skin.