How to Use Niacinamide Serum Like a Dermatologist
Niacinamide is one of the most popular ingredients in skincare these days, and there are many reasons why. In this article, we’ll take a look at the various benefits of niacinamide for the skin, what’s in a serum, and how to use it from a respected nationally certified dermatologist.
What is niacinamide? Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, a water-soluble vitamin that is essential for overall body and skin health. As nationally recognized dermatologist Dr. Davin Lim explains, niacinamide is considered a very effective and flexible active ingredient, explaining that it’s actually one of the easiest vitamins to use in skin care because it’s paired with vitamin C A (aka. It’s highly tolerable and has a very low frequency of side effects even compared to vitamin C (retinol).
Niacinamide serums are a great way to incorporate the multiple skin benefits of niacinamide into your daily skincare routine, as the serum (due to its lightweight formula) contains a high concentration of active ingredients that can be released into the skin to specifically treat specific skin concerns.
What Are the Benefits of Niacinamide for Skin? According to nationally recognized dermatologist Dr. Shereen Idriss, topical niacinamide can perform many different functions in the skin, such as:
Therefore, it is important to keep the skin intact and tightly bound by keratin to maintain the skin’s immune function and better protect us from external influences. Improves lipid barrier function:
Niacinamide can also increase the production of ceramides.
Ceramides are lipids that act as intercellular “glue,” holding skin cells together and keeping the skin soft and hydrated. Increased ceramide production allows the skin to retain its natural moisture, which can help treat certain conditions such as eczema.
Anti-inflammatory effects: Niacinamide has been shown to reduce the production of several mediators and molecules involved in the inflammatory process [1]. Therefore, it is suitable for acne patients with inflammatory
bumps and acne.
In addition, niacinamide can help reduce redness, which Dr. Lindane may be beneficial for people with rosacea. Regulates oil secretion: 2% Niacinamide has been shown to control the secretion and excretion of sebum, which is responsible for facial shine and the formation of acne.
Helps Even Skin Tone: There is evidence that niacinamide may be a potent compound that inhibits the transfer of melanin granules, also known as melanosomes, from melanocytes to keratinocytes.
While niacinamide alone may not be effective in combating hyperpigmentation, Dr. Shereene Idriss says it can enhance the effects of other ingredients like vitamin C, kojic acid, and arbutin to even out skin tone.
Anti-aging effects: Niacinamide has the potential to boost collagen synthesis in the skin and inhibit its breakdown, thereby providing a firming effect, improving surface texture, and smoothing fine lines and wrinkles. So what can niacinamide be used for?
Due to its numerous proven biological functions in the skin, niacinamide may be suitable for all skin types to treat different skin concerns. Certified dermatologists use it for: Acne-prone skin and oily skin.
What is the optimal concentration to apply? Now that you know its many benefits and uses, you might think that the higher the concentration of niacinamide in your serum, the better, right? We tell you that’s not true.
Niacinamide serums come in concentrations ranging from 2% to 20%, with 10% being the most common. Nationally recognized dermatologist Dr. Jenny Liu, however, notes that most of niacinamide’s benefits have been demonstrated at lower concentrations of 2% to 5%, with no studies showing any real benefit at higher concentrations.
In fact, Dr. Shereene Idris notes that “more isn’t enough,” and serums above 5% (like those in 10% formulas) can cause irritation, inflammation, and breakouts—all skin concerns you really want to treat.
In that order, most board-certified dermatologists recommend niacinamide serums with concentrations between 2% and 5%. Additionally, you can look for serums that already combine niacinamide with other ingredients to minimize the number of products you use to treat a specific skin concern, such as Dr. Shereene Idris recommends.
Dr. Shereene Idriss believes that these 10% serums, formulated with 1% zinc (like regular niacinamide serums), act as an anti-inflammatory agent and greatly reduce the inflammatory potential of niacinamide.
How to use niacinamide serums correctly? The great thing about niacinamide is that, according to Dr. Davin Lim, it combines well with most ingredients in skincare, such as retinol and vitamin C. From this point of view, niacinamide serums can be used with other skincare products without any incompatibility.
– Should you use it in the morning or at night? It can be used in the morning and/or at night, but most people prefer to use niacinamide serums at night, which is also what Dr. Davin Lim recommends.
– How is it used? If you are new to niacinamide serums, Dr. Shereene Idriss recommends starting with one daily application to see how your skin reacts to this new product.
When it comes to your skincare routine, products should be used in a specific order. In a basic skincare routine, serums should be used after cleansing and before moisturizing (in the morning or at night). Why in this order?
Nationally recognized dermatologist Dr. Muneeb Shah divides skin care into three phases:
1. Cleansing: It is important to remove dirt, sweat, oil, and impurities so that your skin is clean and ready to enjoy the benefits of skincare products and active ingredients.
2. Treatment: This step uses a multi-ingredient serum that targets your skin’s specific concerns.
3. Protect: In this step, moisturizer is applied to prevent moisture loss from the skin, followed by sunscreen (AM process) to protect the skin from UV rays. He explained that niacinamide acts on the skin during the
treatment phase and then seals the skin with a layer of moisture. Conclusion: Niacinamide has been shown to be an excellent multifunctional active ingredient that is suitable for all skin types and is well tolerated.
It can relieve skin problems. Although it deserves the hype, it is important to know that concentration plays a key role, and dermatologists recommend choosing serums with concentrations between 2% and 5% to obtain the maximum benefits
Niacinamide does not have the risk of inflammatory reactions. Scientific evidence proves its effectiveness and safety.
