Niacinamide

Niacinamide is a type of vitamin B3 (niacin), one of the eight B vitamins required by your body for optimal health. Vitamin B3 is essential for transforming the food you consume into usable energy and assisting your body's cells in carrying out critical metabolic activities. It can help avoid B3 deficiency and may cure acne and eczema. In addition, it is used to alleviate various medical conditions, although the majority of these are not well-supported by scientific research, including acne, diabetes, cancer, osteoarthritis, aging skin, and skin discoloration. Vitamin B3 is commonly found as Niacinamide in animal-based items such as meat and chicken and as nicotinic acid in plant-based foods such as nuts, seeds, and green vegetables.

Niacinamide should not be confused with niacin, L-tryptophan, nicotinamide riboside, NADH, or inositol nicotinate. These are not the same.

How Does Niacinamide Work?

Niacinamide works in several ways to improve skin health:

• Barrier Function: Niacinamide helps strengthen the skin's natural barrier, reducing moisture loss and protecting it from environmental stressors.
• Anti-Inflammatory: It has anti-inflammatory properties that can calm irritated skin and reduce redness.
• Oil Regulation: Niacinamide can help balance oil production, making it suitable for both oily and dry skin types.
• Hyperpigmentation: It can reduce the appearance of dark spots, uneven skin tone, and hyperpigmentation by inhibiting the transfer of melanin to the skin's surface.
• Collagen Production: Niacinamide promotes collagen synthesis, which can improve the skin's elasticity and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

What are the uses of Niacinamide?

Your skin's health is significantly influenced by Niacinamide, making it a popular addition in the cosmetic and skincare sector. A dangerous kind of skin cancer called melanoma arises in the cells that make melanin, the pigment that gives your skin its colour. UV exposure, over time, breaks your cells' DNA and is significantly linked to melanoma. Niacinamide oral supplementation appears to aid in preventing the development of new skin cancer or precancerous lesions in those with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer.

How and when to take Niacinamide?

• Pellagra is caused by niacin deficiency. Prescription Niacinamide medications can prevent and treat pellagra effectively. Unlike niacin, Niacinamide does not produce flushing, which is an adverse effect of niacin treatment. This makes it a preferred option for some individuals.
• Creams containing Niacinamide have been found to improve the appearance of acne-prone skin.
• Research suggests that oral supplementation with Niacinamide may reduce the progression of type 1 diabetes, but it does not appear to prevent the development of the condition.
• In those with a history of nonmelanoma skin cancer, taking Niacinamide orally appears to help prevent new skin cancer or premalignant patches from emerging.
• Niacinamide taken orally helps in lowering phosphate levels in patients with renal failure who require haemodialysis and have high amounts of the mineral. 

What are the side effects of Niacinamide?

• Niacinamide topical use is entirely risk-free and shouldn't cause any skin issues in healthy individuals. Mild redness, itching, or a burning feeling may be experienced by those with sensitive skin. 
• Niacinamide is generally well-tolerated, and excess levels are typically eliminated through urine, making it unlikely to cause adverse effects at inappropriate doses.
• There have been a few reports of Niacinamide’s adverse effects, including headaches, nausea, and stomach pain.
• Severe side effects of Niacinamide are rare but may occur with doses greater than 3 grams per day. These can include liver problems and high blood sugar levels.

What precautions should be taken?

• Niacinamide can aggravate allergies because it causes the production of histamine, a substance that causes allergic symptoms.
• Niacinamide may aggravate gallbladder disease.
• Niacinamide is safe when taken orally at the recommended dose for the age range. Nonetheless, youngsters should absolutely avoid taking Niacinamide doses that exceed the drug's daily maximum limit.
• Gout can be caused by excessive Niacinamide consumption.
• Niacinamide has the potential to aggravate liver damage. If you have liver illness, avoid using it.
• Niacinamide might also aggravate ulcers. It should be avoided if you have ulcers.
• Before and after surgery, Niacinamide may interfere with the regulation of blood sugar. Niacinamide should be stopped at least two weeks before the procedure.

What if I missed the dose of Niacinamide

If you miss a dose of Niacinamide, take it as soon as you remember. However, if your next dose is due, wait until then to take your scheduled dose. It is important to avoid double intake of medicines to make up for a missed dose.

What if there is an overdose of Niacinamide?

Niacinamide can induce diarrhoea, easy bruising, and increased bleeding from wounds if you take too much of it. Get quick medical assistance if you believe you may have overdosed.

Storage of Niacinamide

• Niacinamide supplements should be kept in a cool, dry area.
• Avoid keeping your supplements in areas that could get too hot or cold. It's also preferable to keep vitamins out of the sun.
• Niacinamide creams and serums need to be refrigerated in some cases.
• For the recommended storage practices, refer to the labels on your items.
• It is important to discontinue the use of Niacinamide pills after the expiration date printed on the label has passed.

Caution with other medicine

• If you also use medication to decrease your blood pressure, let your doctor know. Diltiazem, Atenolol, Nifedipine, Propranolol, Verapamil, Norvasc, Cartia, Lotrel, Tiazac, and Toprol are a few blood pressure medications.

• Make sure your doctor is aware if you regularly or daily consume alcohol.

• If you're using a cholesterol-lowering medication like Lescol, Lovastatin, Lipitor, or Zocor, let your doctor know.

How quickly does Niacinamide show results?

After using the product twice daily for 2–4 weeks, you should start to see visible results.

Comparison of a Niacinamide medicine with Nicotinic acid

Reference Links:

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/Niacinamide#what-it-is https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1534/Niacinamide
https://www.rxlist.com/Niacinamide/supplements.htm#Interactions
https://www.singlecare.com/prescription/Niacinamide/what-is
https://www.verywellhealth.com/health-benefits-of-Niacinamide-4570966

Disclaimer: The information provided here is not meant to substitute an advice from a healthcare professional. The information is not intended to cover all the possible uses, side-effects, precautions, and drug interactions. This information is not intended to suggest that using a specific drug is suitable, safe, or efficient for you or anyone else. The absence of any information or warning regarding the drug should not be interpreted as an implicit guarantee from the organisation. We strongly advise you to consult a doctor if you have any concerns about the drug and never use the medication without a doctor’s prescription.