Niacinamide is a wonderful ingredient when it comes to treating acne. If you are looking for the best ingredients for treating acne, niacinamide for acne is one of the most promising choices. In addition to its benefits for the skin, it is also compatible with other powerful ingredients like retinol, peptides, and hyaluronic acid. Let's figure out the numerous benefits of niacinamide and a few frequently asked questions about niacinamide for acne.
What is niacinamide?
Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 naturally present in many foods and is also a potent anti-inflammatory. It also repairs damaged DNA and reduces the immunosuppressive effects of ultraviolet rays. Moreover, vitamin B3 is also beneficial for the body, battling internal and external stressors. As the largest organ and the most exposed to the elements, the skin needs more than one healthy substance to maintain its youthful appearance. Niacinamide for acne use is another common use in skincare products.
Benefits of niacinamide for acne
- Reduces inflammation and soothes inflammatory acne
- Improves skin tone and texture
- Prevents new zits from forming
- Regulates skin oil production
- Cures clogged pores by controlling excess sebum
- Fades marks that spots leave behind
- Repairs skin's barrier
- Reduces redness associated with exposure to sunlight
- Protects skin from environmental pollutants
- Minimizes pores
- Reduces red blotchiness and hyperpigmented spots
Niacinamide For Acne Topical Treatment
Topical treatment is applied to a specific area of the body or the face. In this scenario, the topical substance is niacinamide, which will be applied topically to the acne region. When it comes to niacinamide for acne, the concentration level of niacinamide is often higher compared to other types of skincare products. Thus, we should be aware that niacinamide, at this point, should not be applied to our whole face. Instead, it works best as a topical treatment.
Does niacinamide help with breakouts?
You may wonder, Does niacinamide help acne outbreaks? The answer is yes! Niacinamide can help with acne breakouts because it builds keratin, a waterproof protein that is an important part of the skin's protective layer. This protein is a crucial part of your skin's protective shell. It keeps the skin strong and resistant to external influences. Niacinamide also helps your skin build the lipid barrier, which is a layer of dead skin cells held together by ceramide-rich lipids. Having a stronger lipid barrier keeps the skin hydrated and less susceptible to external influences. As a result, using niacinamide for acne breakouts can help to speed up the healing process.
Is niacinamide good for acne scars?
Due to the nature of niacinamide in helping reduce inflammation and hyperpigmentation, niacinamide is also effective for treating acne scars. It also helps improve skin texture, brightness, and overall health. The skin will be clearer, smoother, and brighter after niacinamide treatment.
How Does Niacinamide Treat Acne?
Since niacinamide is water-soluble, it is more easily absorbed by the skin when it is in a water-based serum. Depending on the concentration of niacinamide in the products, it works differently for acne. In general, 5% of niacinamide for acne is known as the optimal concentration level for achieving the desired effect, but can we find products of niacinamide for acne higher than this concentration leave? The short answer is, yes, we can, and they will be listed down below! We will also break down the effects of different niacinamide for acne, and you can decide which concentration works best for your skin.
"Niacinamide is something I can't live without, or I will have to tolerate an oily face for the rest of my life.”
2% niacinamide for acne
A 2% niacinamide treatment will improve some appearance of acne scarring and reduce the redness of pimples to a low extent. This topical application will help stabilize the skin's natural barrier function, balance moisture levels and prevent the appearance of aging skin. This ingredient will also help regulate the production of sebum and decrease skin oiliness, preventing acne breakouts.
Studies that use a combination of niacinamide and have found that it is more effective than a cream base with 2.5% benzoyl peroxide. The combination of the two active ingredients has the potential to kill all four pathogeneses responsible for acne. Benzoyl peroxide kills P. acnes, while niacinamide is an effective anti-inflammatory agent, inhibiting the production of interleukin-8. It also reduces the production of facial sebum, a sign of acne.
According to an experiment done by zula.sg, five out of five participants find that La Roche Posay Effaclar Serum Ultra Concentrate is effective in controlling sebum, calming redness, and removing acne.
This non-comedogenic, highly concentrated face serum is made with salicylic acid, LHA, glycolic acid, and niacinamide for acne prone skin and symptoms of aging. This active combination acts to diminish visible pores and acne spots, smooth uneven skin texture, and reduce the appearance of age in the skin, such as fine wrinkles.
3% niacinamide for acne
The benefits of using treatment of 3% niacinamide for acne can be enormous. It will unclog the pores and reduce the amount of oil that the skin produces, while at the same time reducing inflammation. Its lightweight, non-irritating texture is ideal for use on acne-prone skin. When it is combined with hyaluronic acid and glycerin, these humectants together will draw moisture to the skin.
Generally speaking, treatment of 3% niacinamide for acne is safe for acne sufferers. Actually, it is a great choice for anyone with acne and oily skin. Besides, it is also safe usually for most skin types, although people with allergies may experience a flushing effect when they apply a product containing niacinamide.
It is recommended for people with sensitive skin to do a patch test first if you are thinking of a treatment containing 3% niacinamide for acne. Before applying it to the face, apply a small amount to an arm or wrist. Afterwards, you should stop using the treatment if you experience any adverse reactions. This way, you can ensure that your skin is able to tolerate the concentration before you use it on your face.
4% niacinamide for acne
Generally, skincare products with 4% niacinamide for acne are usually parts of an acne treatment regimen. These regimens include multiple products, including topical niacinamide for acne, to ensure the most effective treatment. In addition, these products should be used in a systematic manner in order to get the best results.
The primary benefit of using products with 4% niacinamide for acne is its ability to decrease the amount of sebum produced by the skin. When pores are clogged with dead skin and oil, they appear larger. By reducing sebum and skin lipids, pores become smaller and skin texture improves. Over-the-counter acne treatments can dehydrate the skin and strip its protective layer. During this process, tiny cracks can form between the skin cells, allowing water and irritants to enter and exit.
Vichy Minéral 89 Probiotic Fractions
Features a 4% formula of niacinamide for acne; this serum has immediate radiant benefits to aid in tissue repair for an even, smooth, and luminous complexion.
Probiotic fractions, hyaluronic acid, and Vichy volcanic water are also included to reduce the indications of ageing.
As a result, this serum improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while also increasing skin suppleness.
5% niacinamide for acne
Using a product with 5% Niacinamide for acne will be usually effective enough for most skin types. It may particularly have a greater effect in treating spots and damage caused by sunlight. Skincare products with this level of niacinamide for acne usually contain other ingredients to soothe the skin too. Therefore, if having an overpowerful niacinamide product is your concern, don't be. However, as said before, patch tests are more conservative but always safer.
This is a high concentration serum made with powerful Yuja extract, in just one drop, your skin will be fully nourished and moisturized.
Did you know that just 1L of Yuja peel essential oil can be produced by compressing about 600kg of fresh citron? However, this serum contains 82% Goheung Yuja extract!
When combined with 5% niacinamide for acne, your skin will be lightened and freckles and dark spots will diminish. This lightweight, quick-absorbing serum contains Glutathione and Arbutin, which help skin become smooth, fresh, and radiant.
10% niacinamide for acne
Using products with 10% Niacinamide for acne is usually at the edge of people's avoidance because most are unsure whether 10% is too much. The truth is, if you have tried niacinamide for acne before, and have built up some tolerance for the ingredient; you should be fine to use it, especially if you do not have sensitive skin.
After all, it is not some kind of super harsh chemical. Still, don't get nervous when your skin experiences some redness after using a treatment with 10% niacinamide for acne, it is absolutely normal.
This oil-control serum is designed to help you get rid of pimples and inflammation on your skin. To balance apparent elements of sebum activity, zinc salt of pyrrolidone carboxylic acid adds a high 10% concentration of this vitamin to the mix. If you are looking for a higher-than-average percentage of niacinamide for acne, then this skincare product suits you well!
100% niacinamide for acne
After we have talked about all the 2-5% of niacinamide for acne in skincare products, it seems a bit aggressive to go straight to 100%. And are there really products out there with 100% niacinamide for acne? Yes, from one of the most popular brands at Carsha, The Ordinary.
But, let me clarify! Although the Ordinary's Niacinamide Powder contains 100% Niacinamide and provides the most direct topical Niacinamide exposure for visible shine, enlarged pores, and uneven skin texture. It was not designed for direct use in your acne areas!
In contrast to the Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% solution, this powder provides a DIY experience, allowing users to adapt their intake to their specific preferences.
But how? This powder let you combine the advantages of Niacinamide with the benefits of other non-conflicting ingredients (such as Peptide serums) to treat many skin issues at once. In other words, this powdery product made with niacinamide for acne is meant to be mixed and diluted with some other skincare products.
We hope this article has provided you with recommendations for some of the most effective niacinamide products. Hopefully now you will have a direction in curing your acne!