The benefits of niacinamide for skin

Niacinamide is a powerful active ingredient widely used in cosmetics

Niacinamide is a widely used active ingredient in cosmetic products. What are its properties? How does it help reduce wrinkles and the signs of skin aging? Why is it used to soothe the skin? In the following lines, FILORGA experts tell you all about this essential ingredient.

All you need to know about niacinamide in a few lines

Niacinamide (yes, it's a masculine noun!) isn't just a vitamin that's good for your skin.
It performs many vital functions in the body (energy production, hormone synthesis, etc.)
It is found in animal products as well as certain fruits and grains.
In cosmetics, it is used to combat skin agingskin aging, soothe inflammation, maintain skin hydration, and reduce pigmentation spots.

Vitamin B3 and Niacinamide: What Are the Differences?

Along with niacin, niacinamide representsthe two forms of vitamin B3, a water-soluble vitamin essential for the proper functioning of the body. It is also known as nicotinamide or vitamin PP (from the English word Pellagra Preventing, which means prevention of pellagra, a skin disease).

Vitamin B3 plays several crucial roles in the body:

It is necessary for the production of essential coenzymes for many metabolic reactions such as the breakdown of carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. These include NAD (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) and NADP (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate).
It contributes to thesynthesis of certain lipids and hormones, including sex hormones such as testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen.
It helps in theproper functioning of the nervous system.
It has antioxidant properties, helping to protect the skin from free radicals and stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. These are the characteristics that interest us, and we'll come back to them later.

In food, good amounts of vitamin B3 are found in:

Meat and offal (beef, veal, poultry, liver).
Fish (tuna, salmon).
data-mce-fragment="1">Whole grains (brown and wholegrain rice, oats) and wheat bran.
Dried fruits (apricots, prunes).
Nuts and seeds (almonds, peanuts, chia seeds).

What are the signs of a vitamin B3 deficiency?

A deficiency in this nutrient can manifest itself as:

A general feeling offatigue andweakness.
Digestive problems and a loss of appetite.
Neurological problems such asheadaches data-mce-fragment="1">, dizziness, irritability, and even depression.
Skin disorders such as hypersensitivity to external aggressions or eczema data-mce-fragment="1">.
In the most severe cases, the development ofpellagra, a potentially fatal disease characterized by atopic dermatitis, diarrhea, and a form of dementia.

In developed countries, apart from among severely malnourished people, vitamin B3 deficiency remains very rare and is associated with genetic predispositions or alcoholism. It is nonetheless an essential vitamin for many metabolic functions.

But what about its effect on the skin? Why is this ingredient so common in serums, creams, and beauty products in general? That's what we'll discover now.

What are its uses in creams and serums, and what are its benefits for the skin?

In the rest of this article, we will talk about niacinamide and not about vitamin B3, since it isthe most widely used form in cosmetics.

As we have seen, this compound plays an essential role in several biological functions of the body, particularly in the production of energy in cells. It is also involved in the regulation of DNA synthesis.

In the skin, its effects are multiple:

An anti-aging action

Niacinamide is a powerful antioxidant. By stimulating the production of NAD and NADP (the coenzymes mentioned above), it helps inhibit glycation, a process by which sugars bind to proteins and prevent them from performing their normal functions. In skin tissue, low glycation results in an increased production of important molecules such as collagen. Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of niacinamide in reducing wrinkles and skin roughness.

A protective and moisturizing action

Niacinamide promotes the synthesis of keratin and filaggrin, two proteins important for maintaining the skin barrier. It also helps reduce water loss from the epidermis by stimulating the production of ceramides and other lipids in the stratum corneum.

It therefore helpsfightdry skin and delay skin aging.

Anti-blemish action

Niacinamide is also useful forreducing enlarged pores and redness and in the treatment of conditions such as acne and rosacea. This effectiveness is due to its ability to regulate sebum production as well as its anti-inflammatory and healing action. p> p> p> h3 data-mce-fragment="1">A brightening action p> Melanin is the pigment responsible for skin color. UV rays increase its natural production so that it can act as a natural filter in the epidermis and thus protect the skin from the sun. It is produced in the deep layers of the epidermis by specialized cells called melanocytes. This process involves two main steps:

Melanin synthesis: Under the action of an enzyme, melanin is produced in melanocytes and stored in structures called melanosomes.
The distribution of melanin in the epidermis: melanosomes are then transported to the keratinocytes of the epidermis, where they form a protective UV barrier.

Niacinamideacts on the appearance ofhyperpigmentation spots by inhibiting the transfer of melanosomes to keratinocytes, thus preventing melanin from coloring the skin. Rest assured, this action is reversible and therefore does not prevent tanning once the effects of niacinamide have worn off!

Filorga's NCEF: niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and other essential active ingredients for the skin

The benefits of niacinamide are numerous and significant. And it's only logical that the skin experts at Laboratoires FILORGA included it in the brand's star ingredient complex, NCEF [New Cellular Encapsulated Factors].

NCEF now benefits froma new, more effective formula, with 10 active ingredients used in revitalizing injections performed inaesthetic medicine.

In addition to niacinamide, NCEF includes:

A low-molecular-weight hyaluronic acid for its hydrating and regenerative effects and its ability to stimulate the endogenous production of collagen and hyaluronic acid.
Amino acids (arginine, glycine, taurine) for the major role they play in building all the body's tissues. The amino acids in NCEF have a moisturizing effect, boost collagen production, and protect the skin's barrier function.
Ergothioneine, a powerful antioxidant, to protect the skin from UV rays and external aggressions.
Minerals (sodium and magnesium) to hydrate skin tissue and improve skin texture.
Vitamin Eto fight oxidative stress.
NAD, one of the coenzymes dependent on niacinamide, whose effects are reinforced.