nifty niacinamide: uncover luminous skin with vitamin B3.(INSIDE OUT: PERSONAL CARE)

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Whether the goal is fighting wrinkles and age spots or eradicating stubborn acne, cosmetic manufacturers are turning to an old vitamin that seems to be learning new skin care tricks. Niacinamide, aka vitamin B3, is popping up in moisturizers, eye creams, antiaging serums, and acne treatments, as scientists continue to unlock this nutrient's beauty benefits.

What It Is

Niacinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is the water-soluble form of vitamin B3, which the body uses to produce fatty acids, steroids, and cholesterol. It's also a critical nutrient for normal carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism.

In the body, niacinamide is incorporated into nicotinamide adenine dinudeotide and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate. These two coenzymes are used in a variety of processes, such as tissue respiration, fat metabolism, and the breakdown of glycogens, carbohydrates that play a role in controlling blood sugar levels. But it's niacinamide's impact on skin that has everyone talking.

What It Does

This versatile vitamin is no stranger to dermatologists, who have known about niacinamide's acne-fighting ability for years. When 198 people with severe acne were given a proprietary formula containing 750 mg of niacinamide, 79 percent experienced a significant improvement in skin lesions after eight weeks. In fact, niacinamide seemed to work just as well as a popular antibiotic to reduce acne.