Is Niacinamide/Nicotinamide good for skin brightening? How it works?

What is Niacinamide/Nicotinamide ?

Niacinamide as a whitening ingredient has been popular for many years; most people have heard of it but some of them don't know what it is used for and wonder if it is suitable for them.

Actually, Niacinamide is a member of the vitamin B family, as the molecular mass is only 120, making it easier than other whitening ingredients to be absorbed by our skin, but actually, Niacinamide is an all-rounder, more than just whitening. It suitable for,

⦁ Oily and acne-prone skin.
⦁ Whitening and even skin tone.
⦁ Repair skin barrier and hydrate.
⦁ Anti-early aging and fine lines.

How does Niacinamide work on skin?

1. For whitening and even skin tone. 

Niacinamide has the ability to inhibit melanosome transfer to our skin; in other words, fewer melanosomes gather together on the skin so it is more whitening.

There are two tests for Niacinamide as a whitening agent. For the first one, which performs the Pigment-Reconstructed Epidermal Model (PREM), the lab adds 1mM Niacinamide to see the melanosome.

For the second one, the volunteer keeps using 5% Niacinamide moisturizer and sees the difference on the face. The result shows that after 4 weeks the pigment disappears.

2. For Oily and acne-prone skin.

There are not many studies that explain why Niacinamide is able to control oil, but this is a famous test performed by Dr. Zoe Diana Draelos showing the result on oil reduction.

Results show if you keep using 2% Niacinamide, it can significantly reduce the sebum excretion after 4 weeks.

In another test, comparing the results for 4% Niacinamide gel and 1% Clindamycin, it shows that after 8 weeks, volunteers are 82% better than before.

3. For anti-skin repairing and hydrating.

The main reason for Niacinamide repairing and hydrating skin is that it promotes the synthesis of Ceramide in the skin, as Ceramide is well known as a skin barrier-improving and hydrating ingredient.

4. For anti-early aging and removing fine lines

Niacinamide is not as good as an anti-aging player as others, but it still works. As a precursor to NAD/NADP, while we are using a Niacinamide product, it helps to increase the level of NAD/NADP in our body. 

NAD/NADP promotes the generation of collagen in our skin; in a way Niacinamide helps to prevent wrinkles and early aging, but the result is not obvious.

The side effects of Niacinamide.
Niacinamide is a mild Ingredient and an all-rounder, but it might lead to side effects on the skin. They are,

⦁ Slightly redness and irritation if the percentage over 6%
⦁If you have dry skin, you know Niacinamide is able to reduce oil and sebum.
⦁ There is a side ingredient called niacin if Niacinamide is not pure enough. Niacin leads to skin irritation.

FAQ

Q: Is everyone suitable to use Niacinamide products?
A: Most people can use Niacinamide products except those who have very dry skin, and we suggest using products with less than 6% Niacinamide.

Q: Can we use Niacinamide during the day?
A: Yes, sunlight won't oxidant Niacinamide.

Q: What Ingredients can't we use with Niacinamide?
A: Niacinamide is fit for most ingredients but we suggest not using it alone with high percentages of Acid products.

Conclusion

Niacinamide is a widely used ingredient for many brands and has a comprehensive effect on skincare. It offers benefits like even skin tone, barrier repair, and anti-aging, and due to its mild characteristic, it is commonly accepted by customers.