Niacinamide 101: Potential Benefits, Known Risks, and More

Note: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate all supplements. Before taking a supplement, talk to your doctor about potential drug interactions and other safety concerns.

Keeping up with the latest must-have skin-care ingredients can be tough — but it’s worth taking the time to learn more about niacinamide. While this ingredient doesn’t always get as much attention as fellow skin-aging fighters like retinoids and skin-care acids, you may have spotted niacinamide while scrolling through Instagram or TikTok.

Curious if niacinamide should have a place in your skin-care regimen? Read on to find out what you need to know about this beauty booster.

What Is Niacinamide?

In the context of skin care, niacinamide is a topical version of vitamin B3, says Rachel Nazarian, MD, a dermatologist with Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City.

Topical niacinamide-containing products will have more direct benefits on the skin, says Chen. Both she and Dr. Nazarian note that niacinamide is most effective when applied topically. That said, getting B3 through your diet can be healthy for your skin too, Nazarian adds.

Niacinamide may be an ingredient in topical formulations such as:

• Sunscreens
• Moisturizers
• Night creams
• Serums
• Face washes
• Cleansers

Oral niacinamide or vitamin B3 supplements may come in a variety of forms too, including:

• Capsules
• Tablets
• Liquids
• Gummies
• Powders

Niacinamide is versatile as a skin-care ingredient. Nazarian recommends it for people with dry, sensitive, aging, or acne-prone skin. Here’s how it may benefit your skin.

May Improve Skin Hydration

“When used topically, niacinamide can improve skin hydration by preventing evaporation of moisture from the skin into the environment,” Nazarian says.

May Slow Signs of Aging

According to Nazarian, niacinamide helps prevent premature signs of skin aging, including boosting collagen production to smooth wrinkles and reduce discolorations.

May Reduce Inflammation and Irritation

Niacinamide is also a natural anti-inflammatory ingredient, “so it’s great for calming irritated skin, but also good for people with sensitive skin,” says Nazarian.

May Reduce Acne

May Lower the Risk of Skin Cancer

Niacinamide is versatile and generally works well with most ingredients, which is why you can often find it paired with a variety of other active ingredients that fight premature skin aging. Topical niacinamide in particular is a gentle ingredient with few risks. Oral niacinamide does have some potential risks and side effects at high doses.

Risks

Some supplements contain niacinamide in dosages that are much higher than the recommended daily intake. “Even though niacinamide is water-soluble and theoretically can be peed out if you take too much, there’s still a risk of liver toxicity with oral intake,” Nazarian explains.

Side Effects

Here’s what to know about looking for a niacinamide product that’s right for you.

Selection

You can find niacinamide in various types of skin-care products, but there’s not enough evidence that brief contact with the skin, such as with face washes or cleansers, leads to meaningful skin differences — so Nazarian recommends sticking to products that are left on the skin and absorbed, such as moisturizers or serums.

Nazarian and Chen both suggest using a product that contains a concentration of no more than 5 percent niacinamide, to minimize the risk of irritation. For most people, this amount should be tolerable. However, certain niacinamide serums contain as much as double that, so always read the label.

Also, take a look at which other active ingredients a niacinamide product contains. Chen explains that you can often find niacinamide paired with alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs). “AHAs exfoliate dead skin cells that make it easier for niacinamide to effectively penetrate,” she says.

Nazarian advises that other great couplings for niacinamide include hyaluronic acid (both ingredients relieve dryness) and salicylic acid. Salicylic acid treats acne and keeps pores clear, while niacinamide may regulate oil production in skin and reduce inflammation.

Once you’ve decided on a skin-care product containing niacinamide, it’s worth performing a spot test to determine whether your skin agrees with this ingredient. Apply a small amount of the product to a small patch of skin and watch for any adverse reaction. “Generally, someone can determine whether they are sensitive to a product within the first few days of use,” says Nazarian. Do this with any new product, especially if you have sensitive skin and are therefore more prone to an allergic response, she advises.

Storage

Niacinamide doesn’t need to be refrigerated. You can keep it in your medicine cabinet or vanity.

You can apply niacinamide products in the morning or at night, or both. “I recommend both daily and nighttime use of this ingredient, due to the multiple skin-care concerns it addresses,” says Nazarian. Follow the instructions on the label of the topical skin-care product you’re using, and stop using the product if you experience any negative reactions, such as redness or irritation. (Keep in mind that reactions might not be caused by the niacinamide, but rather by another ingredient in the product.)

The Takeaway

• Niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3, is a well-tolerated ingredient that can be found in a range of skin-care products.
• It is used for moisturizing, brightening, and anti-acne purposes, among other reasons.
• If you’re looking to add niacinamide to your skin-care routine, opt for a concentration of less than 5 percent, and choose a product that you leave on the skin for maximum absorption (such as a moisturizer or serum).