The first thing you should know is that Niacinamide is one of two forms of Vitamin B3 (also known as Niacin), and it’s used both as a dietary supplement as well as in acne cleaners, creams and serums. Nicotinic acid is the other form of Vitamin B3, and has similar properties but more side-effects, including redness and a tingling sensation in the skin, so Niacinamide is generally preferred for treating acne and boosting post inflammatory healing in the skin.

Vitamin B3 is one of eight B Vitamins, and it helps our bodies carry out important chemical reactions like turning the food we eat into energy. If we eat a healthy and balanced diet, we absorb this nutrient naturally through red fish like tuna and salmon, as well as through certain meats like poultry, and to a lesser extent through nuts, seeds and some vegetables.

Niacinamide is prized by skincare experts for a whole host of benefits for the complexion, including reducing fine lines, adding moisture to thirsty skin, fading hyperpigmentation, balancing oily skin, preventing blemishes, and evening out skin tone.

It’s particularly well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties; since acne is a condition triggered by an inflammatory response in our skin, Niacinamide is an ideal anti-acne ingredient because it can reduce the number of new pimples that develop, as well fading pimple marks and scarring.

And, because it also boosts the skin’s elasticity and has a smoothing effect on fine lines, it’s particularly well suited to treating adult acne, when the skin not only needs help clearing but also strengthens the skin’s uppermost layer.

Some studies have also shown that Niacinamide has some has immune-protective properties, and could help protect cells against UV damage when taken as an oral supplement.

Niacinamide is clinically proven to regulate sebum production, decongest pores, reduce pore size control breakout and reduce inflammation associated with acne and strengthen skin dermal barrier, as well as preventing transfer of pigmentation and boosting collagen production.

All in all, these properties mean Niacinamide is a brilliant ingredient for clearing skin from active acne, as well as helping to fade existing acne marks and even out skin tone.

Niacinamide is safe to use daily. In fact, we recommend that people treating acne and acne scarring apply a Niacinamide serum twice a day, in the morning and in the evening after cleansing.

One of the great things about Niacinamide compared to other high-strength anti-acne ingredients is that it doesn’t increase your skin’s sensitivity to UV rays, meaning you can use it both in the morning and at night.

Niacinamide serums (like the one we recommend from Medik8) tend to be water-based, giving it a lovely light texture that won’t leave your skin feeling oily.

If you’re looking for a daily skin regimen to help you clear up your acne that includes Niacinamide, you might be interested in our anti-breakout regimen set.

When the body has too much Niacinamide it excretes the excess into our urine, so there don’t tend to be noticeable side effects, making it one of the safest and most effective anti-acne ingredients around.

People have reported flushing, redness, itching and tingling of the skin occasionally when using inappropriate levels of Nicotinic acid as a health supplement, but these symptoms don’t tend to affect people applying Niacinamide to their skin in cleansers and serums.

Results of using Niacinamide to heal and clear acne-prone skin vary, depending on the type and severity of your acne and scarring. When using Niacinamide in conjunction with the other products in our advanced anti-breakout regimen set, you may start to see results in as little as one week of continuous use, and with our standard anti-breakout regimen setit usually takes two-four weeks of continuous use to start to see an improvement in your skin texture and tone.

One study found that 82% of patients who had applied Niacinamide to their skin twice daily saw an improvement in their acne after eight weeks. And, as if you need any more convincing, this multi-talented super ingredient is suitable for pretty much every skin type out there, from sensitive to oily or dry.