Quick answer
Vitamin B3, also listed as nicotinamide; Strongest evidence: barrier repair, dryness and redness; Good evidence for acne and oily skin at 2–5%; Brightening and anti-aging effects are real but slow and modest; Stable in light and heat, with a low irritation risk; High-dose oral nicotinamide for skin-cancer prevention is a medical treatment, not a supplement habit Key benefits: Soothing, Anti-Aging, Pore Minimizer.
Niacinamide
Updated
Niacinamide (vitamin B3) is a gentle skincare active that repairs the skin barrier, calms redness, controls oil and evens tone at 2–5%. Official IUPAC name: 3-Pyridinecarboxamide
Purpose
Strengthens a weak skin barrier, calms redness, regulates oil and gradually fades uneven tone. Generally well tolerated at 2–5%, even with long-term use.
Rating
BEST
Category
Antioxidant, Humectant
INCI Purpose
SMOOTHING
Benefits
Hair Profile
Functions
Helps With
Goals
Suitable For
Role
Barrier-repair + sebum regulator. Reduces scalp redness, regulates excess oil, and adds shine to lengths. Safe for lengths; improves cuticle smoothness.
At a Glance
- Vitamin B3, also listed as nicotinamide
- Strongest evidence: barrier repair, dryness and redness
- Good evidence for acne and oily skin at 2–5%
- Brightening and anti-aging effects are real but slow and modest
- Stable in light and heat, with a low irritation risk
- High-dose oral nicotinamide for skin-cancer prevention is a medical treatment, not a supplement habit
Article
Niacinamide is vitamin B3 in the form skincare uses. On the skin, at 2–5%, it reliably strengthens a weak barrier and calms redness. Taken by mouth at 500 mg twice a day, it cut new non-melanoma skin cancers by about 23% in one major trial of high-risk adults. Those are two different uses with two different levels of proof, and marketing tends to blur them.
What niacinamide does for skin
Reviews of topical niacinamide agree on what it does well. The evidence is uneven, though, so it helps to know which claims are the solid ones.
| Use | Strength of evidence |
|---|---|
| Barrier repair, dryness, redness | Strong and consistent |
| Acne and oily skin | Good, mostly at 2–5% |
| Hyperpigmentation and dull tone | Supportive; gradual, modest change |
| Fine lines and photoaging | Supportive, but depends on formula and concentration |
The barrier result explains most of the rest. Niacinamide raises the skin’s own ceramide production, which slows water loss. A sturdier barrier is less red and less reactive, and it copes better with other actives.
What percentage of niacinamide works
Most of the research uses 2–5%, and that is a sensible place to start. Benefits have been reported from concentrations as low as 0.2%. The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel found niacinamide safe at up to 20%, but no study shows that 10% or 20% works better than 5%, and higher strengths are more likely to sting.
Newer products wrap niacinamide in liposomes, microcapsules or nanoparticles to improve stability and penetration. That is reasonable chemistry. Better delivery in the lab still has to show a better result on actual skin, and most of these formulas have not shown it yet.
Niacinamide with retinol, vitamin C and acids
Niacinamide pairs well with sunscreen, retinoids and hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin. With retinoids it is a useful buffer, because the barrier support offsets some of the dryness.
The old warning that niacinamide cancels out vitamin C comes from early tests on raw ingredients under conditions skincare doesn’t recreate. Current research finds the two complementary. If your skin is sensitive, add one new active at a time.
Oral nicotinamide and skin cancer
The phase 3 ONTRAC trial gave adults with a history of non-melanoma skin cancer 500 mg of nicotinamide twice daily for 12 months. New non-melanoma skin cancers fell by about 23% compared with placebo while people were taking it.
The picture is less tidy than that headline:
- The benefit rests largely on that one trial.
- A large trial in solid-organ transplant recipients found no significant drop in new keratinocyte cancers or actinic keratoses.
- A Canadian trial is now testing the same dose for up to four years in transplant recipients with previous skin cancer.
Current reviews call oral nicotinamide promising for high-risk adults with a normal immune system, and unsettled beyond that. It is not a general cancer-prevention supplement for people at ordinary risk. Anyone with a history of skin cancer, who takes regular medication, or who is immunosuppressed should decide this with a dermatologist, not a supplement label.
What niacinamide is NOT proven to do
- Slow aging through NAD+. Niacinamide feeds into NAD+ metabolism, so it is often sold alongside NMN and nicotinamide riboside as a longevity supplement. Clinical reviews conclude that health-span benefits from NAD+ boosters in humans have not been shown consistently. The supporting human studies are small or pilot-scale, and the rest of the evidence comes from animals.
- Protect against sunburn from the inside. In a 2025 study of healthy volunteers, oral nicotinamide did not reduce UV-induced redness or DNA damage. Sunscreen is still the protection.
- Treat systemic conditions. Evidence for diabetes prevention, arthritis and similar uses remains limited or inconclusive.
Who should be careful
On the skin, niacinamide has a low irritation risk even with long-term use. Sensitive skin can still tingle or flush at higher strengths, so start with a lower percentage and use it every other day at first. Oral doses are a different matter. They can cause nausea, headache, dizziness and rash.
References