Apostrophe's Products
Everything You Need to Know About Niacinamide
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Apostrophe's Products
Everything You Need to Know About Niacinamide
Medically reviewed by Aimee Paik, MD, MD
Written by Daley Quinn
Last updated 4/6/2022
Like your super sweet friend who’s always there for you and can never do any wrong, niacinamide is an overall crowd-pleaser that rarely disappoints. Found in Apostrophe’s tretinoin formulation, niacinamide has so many skincare benefits and works wonders for those with acne, hyperpigmentation, wrinkles, and so much more.
What is niacinamide and how can it benefit the skin?
Known for its soothing and healing properties, niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and can be found in many skincare products, from toners to serums, to moisturizers and cleansers. “Niacinamide has been shown to have many rejuvenating skin benefits,” explains Dr. Aimee Paik, a board-certified dermatologist and Medical Director of Apostrophe. “It helps to improve the tone and texture of the skin and helps lighten dark spots.
Studies have shown that niacinamide can significantly improve fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmentation, texture, red blotchiness, and skin yellowing. Additionally, using niacinamide regularly may help strengthen a weakened skin barrier caused by the overuse of chemical or physical exfoliants.
Niacinamide is touted for its anti-inflammatory properties and works wonders in treating skin conditions marked by inflammation, such as acne. In a double-blind study done in the International Journal of Dermatology, a topical preparation of 4% niacinamide was as effective as 1% clindamycin at reducing inflammatory acne after twice-daily use for eight weeks. Niacinamide has also been found to help inhibit the production of oil, which could be super beneficial for those dealing with acne.
Niacinamide and Tretinoin: A Love Story
Because of its super soothing properties, 4% of niacinamide can be found in Apostrophe’s tretinoin formulations. “Combining tretinoin with niacinamide makes our formula more effective without making it more irritating,” explains Dr. Paik. Thankfully, “niacinamide is very well tolerated and the side effects are rare and mild.”
Like the friendly ingredient that it is, niacinamide plays very well with other active ingredients. “Niacinamide does not contribute to irritation, nor render other ingredients ineffective,” says Dr. Paik. Use niacinamide once or twice a day along with other active ingredients (recommended by your Apostrophe dermatologist or provider) to help minimize irritation and offer an overall brighter complexion.
“Concentrations [of niacinamide] higher than 4-5% have not been shown to be more effective, but it’s also hard to ‘overdose’ on niacinamide,” explains Dr. Paik. “Higher doses used more frequently does not necessarily lead to more irritation, unlike some other skincare products.” Ahem...looking at you, retinol!
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