Niacinamide is an ingredient that you must have stumbled across on many skincare products. But do you know what its benefits are?
What is niacinamide?
Before jumping to the benefits of niacinamide, it is important first to know what it is exactly.
Niacinamide is a B-group vitamin. It helps in overcoming the deficiency of B-3 vitamin, which otherwise can cause problems like dementia and depression.
Moreover, niacinamide deficiency can also lead to pellagra, a skin condition that causes the skin to become dark, with a rash, when exposed to sunlight. You might then need to consult an online skin specialist for to remedy the problem.
Niacinamide deficiency is also linked to digestive problems like constipation and diarrhea. It can also cause cognitive problems, hallucinations, headache, and fatigue.
Just as low niacinamide levels are dangerous for your health, so are high levels. So, don’t take supplements without discussing first with your doctor.
Benefits of niacinamide for your skin
There are many benefits that topical application can bring to your skin. However, make sure that you patch test first to see if the product suits your skin.
Antioxidative properties
Oxidative stress cause by the free radicals can cause the skin cells to sustain damage. Antioxidants helps in neutralizing the free radicals, and thus prevent body from enduring the stress.
Consequently, skin becomes healthier, and looks the part as well.
Anti-aging properties
While aging is a natural process, and should be owned, but there is no harm in delaying the process a little, and niacinamide can help you with that. It aids in improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles due to its ability to boost collagen production.
Hydrated skin
For your skin to be healthy, it needs to have a strong lipid barrier. Otherwise, moisture gets lost from the skin, which becomes dry and dull as a consequence. Furthermore, dehydrated skin is also more likely to suffer from premature aging.
Niacinamide, on the other hand, can help in fortifying the lipid barrier, which then prevents loss of moisture from the skin.
Helps with hyperpigmentation
Our skin contains the pigment, melanin, which helps in giving it color. With hyperpigmentation, skin becomes darker at some spot. In colloquial, hyperpigmentation is also referred to as dark spots.
These spots cause an uneven appearance of the skin. It can also cause doing makeup a challenge as well. Niacinamide helps in improving this hyperpigmentation, so your skin becomes even.
Improved texture
Niacinamide also helps in improving the texture of the skin, so it becomes smooth and even.
Pores
You cannot shrink pores, but you can certainly unclog them and reduce their appearance, giving your skin a flawless look as a result. Niacinamide can help in improving the appearance of pores over time.
Protects against sun damage
Sun causes a lot of damage to the skin. It leads to the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Sun also causes hyperpigmentation and increases the risk of skin cancer.
Niacinamide can protect the skin against sun damage. However, using niacinamide does not mean that you can forgo sunscreen; both are important for your skin in their own capacities.
Reduced inflammation
Inflammation is not only a source of great discomfort, but it also increases the redness of the skin. Inflammation is common for in certain skin conditions, like eczema.
Alongside managing the underlying skin condition, use of niacinamide can also be of help.
Oil control
Oil control is a challenge that people who have acne face. Their glands then produce too much oil, which can cause pores to become clogged, and lead to breakouts as a result.
Niacinamide can help in regulating the production of oil by the sebaceous glands. This then helps in preventing the detestable and painful acne breakouts.
People suffering from acne should talk to the Best Dermatologists in Lahore regarding the use of niacinamide for to manage their acne.
