Niacinamide Impressive for Skin: Hyperpigmentation, collagen, acne, aging/photodamage

I just happened to see that niacinamide can whiten skin as I was reading about it on wikipedia. I have a patch of skin on my face that is hyperpigmented after healing from a scrape. According to this info (with impressive pictures) niacinamide can drastically *reversibly* reduce hyperpigmentation at a 4% concentration. It also dramatically increases collagen in aged/photodamaged skin, reduces fine lines/wrinkles, and gets rid of acne.

I wonder what the implications are for hair loss, if any? It is dirt cheap, water soluble, and stable at a neutral ph so it can be combined with gels/liquids that are neutral like aloe vera. I'm going to make a solution to treat the dark spot of skin I have, and I will try applying it to my whole face and hairline. I have to order some, but anyone can try this.

A side note: Niacinamide works great for anxiety, and I just found out why: It acts in a similar way to benzodiazepines. It is a GABA(A) agonist.

Skin: http://www.pgdermatology.com/images/learning_library/anti_aging/PG-Niancinamide-FINAL-090105.pdf

jharsh80 - Niacinamide is some nice stuff, here's a quote from my site:

"Niacinamide is a very powerful way to induce mast cell degranulation and histamine release. Studies are underway will be demonstrating the efficacy of both Niacinamide and zinc together in a whole array of inflammatory skin diseases.

Cutis. 2006 Jan;77(1 Suppl):5-10.

High dose Niacinamide has numerous applications to fighting hair loss. Besides its ability to reduce the negative influences of mast cells on fibrosis, Niacinamide inhibits vasoconstriction, allowing better blood flow and circulation. Niacinamide reduces free radical damage from high glucose metabolites. In addition, Niacinamide increases the biosynthesis of ceramides by keratinocytes, which results in better hydration in the epidermal layers of the skin. In other words, it reduces dry skin often seen in inflammatory skin diseases."

Eur J Pharmacol. 1999 Jun 18;374(2):213-20.

The FASEB Journal. 2003;17:1377-1379

Interesting.. It is dirt Cheap..


This is a B vitamin right? So I am getting this from the brewers yeast? Or would a individual supplement help to?

Product recommendations and daily dosage?

Swimmy - I'm not sure, and because it's so cheap, might be worth trying it. I experimented with it for only for a few months. I have heard one anecdotal that it helps growth hair.

Swimmy wrote:Interesting.. It is dirt Cheap..


This is a B vitamin right? So I am getting this from the brewers yeast? Or would a individual supplement help to?

Product recommendations and daily dosage?

Swimmy,

Niacinamide (Vitamin B-3) is an essential member of the B-vitamin family that must be obtained from the diet. It is the precursor to Niacin, but does not cause the "flush" normally associated with Niacin intake.

http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-Niacinamide-500-mg-100-Capsules/704?at=0

Depending on what you intend to use it for the dosage will be different. This 500mg one says to take 1 a day for general use. For anxiety you can take much more. It becomes toxic above 3 grams, so you could take 6 a day but that would probably be overkill for most. As far as topically goes, the studies I posted use a 4% solution. You could just open a capsule and mix it with water or a neutral gel/lotion/cream. Aloe vera would work well.

CS,

Yeah it's one of my favorite supplements- pretty amazing stuff. I ran out a while ago and forgot to order more. I wish I would have known about its anxiolytic effect years ago.

Can you elaborate more on the zinc/b3 studies? Where are they underway? Are they for hair loss? etc..

I am wondering how topical niacinamide compares with minoxidil in vasodilation.

As far as the histamine release goes, I'm looking into methylation right now- under/over-methylators. Undermethylators tend to be exhibit histademia and vice versa. Trying to figure out which one I am is difficult without blood work because they have overlapping symptoms. I'd like to draw the conclusion that because b3 induces histamine release, if someone benefits from it they may have histapenea, but I doubt it is that simple. Maybe I can just down a bunch of folate and see what happens?

Here's some good info.


TED'S REMEDIES
06/19/2006: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand writes: "It has been known in academic circles for sometime that vitamin B3 in the form of niacinamide (non-flushing) is relatively toxic to yeast. A scientist found several years ago and concluded (wrongly) that taking vitamin B3 niacinamide will shorten your life span or longevity, through suppressing the SIR2 silencing gene, which is responsible for longevity.
As a result of this little misinformation, people stopped taking niacinamide and candida and yeast infections skyrocketed. Now the reason for the mistake was relatively simple, the scientist was apparently doing a study on longevity on yeast cells. Apparently in higher animals, fruit flies included, the effect of adding niacinamide resulted in longer life of 15%, as well as human embryo cells.

Therefore, if you have candida, yeast infection, or possibly even a UTI (urinary tract infection), taking niacinamide between 100-500 mg/day could solve this mystery that doctors have a hard time suppressing. In fact, you can expand this idea into applying the use of niacinamide NOT NIACIN, as a means of controlling fungus, since fungus is a relatively close cousin of the yeast also.

This is interesting, since in medicine the two most hardest organism to kill is actually fungus and yeast. It is almost a death sentence if you have this and getting rid of it may mean endless nightmare. Who knows, perhaps dissolving niacinamide with vinegar will be helpful in relieving your toe nail fungus infections.

Therefore a possibility exists from the point of view of biological terrain, candida, yeast and fungus infection is a form of niacinamide deficiency."

EC: Ted's friend confirmed this finding for yeast infections, "i gave my wife 500mg of niacinamide and she say her vulva itching is reduced by 50% -- wow!!! why i never thought of B3!!! i assume that we were getting lots in our diet."


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The final group of compounds that can improve the health and appearance of aged skin are skin-lightening agents. These compounds help reduce unsightly, mottled areas of hyperpigmentation where melanin has pooled underneath the skin. Two ingredients that appear to work synergistically to address this condition are N-acetyl glucosamine and niacinamide.

Glucosamine’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in promoting joint health are well established. Only recently, however, have scientists shown that these same properties help improve skin health as well. N-acetyl glucosamine, a more stable version of glucosamine, inhibits the glycosylation of pro-tyrosinase, a process that is central to the overproduction of melanin in skin cells damaged by ultraviolet light.

When combined with niacinamide, a vitamin B derivative, N-acetyl glucosamine is more effective in reducing hyperpigmentation than niacinamide or N-acetyl glucosamine alone. Treatment with N-acetyl glucosamine and niacinamide reduced both the size of hyperpigmented spots and improved the consistency of melanin distribution in the skin. In-vitro studies of human skin cultures also found that N-acetyl glucosamine and niacinamide stimulated the production of hyaluronic acid and increased healthy collagen expression.13 This improved hydration of the skin helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

http://search.lef.org/cgi-src-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=0&page_id=1174&query=niacinamide&hiword=NIACINAMIDEAS%20niacinamide%20

Thanks for that JDP. I knew that NAG was a precursor of HA, but I didn't know about its synergism with niacinamide in treating hyperpigmentation. I happen to have some a couple capsules of NAG left. How would I go about creating an accurate solution? I always just drop powder into stuff because I hate the math. I think I remember Nid posting about how to do it.

Forgot about the fact it kills candida too! Stuff is awesome.

http://www.bulkactives.com/niacinamide.htm

scottyc33 wrote:http://www.bulkactives.com/niacinamide.htm

Thanks scotty I'll def give this try.


Do we wash it out or keep it in? Probably buy the glucosmain with it and mix..Alternate with mag oil

I'll be giving this a shot for sun damaged face and HL for temples(topically). I got some regrowth at a much younger age using a topical with niacin amide + LLLT. Will report back.

I take niacin, I don't mind the flush and I think the increased circulation helps both skin and hair. 1500 mg. just before bed - it's supposed to increase HGH production during sleep. Hadn't thought
of topical application. Will look into N-acetyl glucosamine also.

A lot about niacin at doctor yourself.com. Supposed to help gums and keep alcoholics off booze, among other things.

Niacin is cool stuff. Strong evidence that it can lower blood pressure

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2705821/

Do you think it can help for alopecia areata?

It certainly can't hurt. I'd also recommend the headstand or some way of turning upside down.

Hey guys, I'm reading your post about niacinamide and nag. Will 500mg of niacinamide off balance the rest of the b's I take?

Also, with all the facial creams Nicholas Perricione, neocutis, 37, Anteage etc etc..I can't really say I found anything to work miracuously at therir price. Though I do like perricone's moisturizer, his neuropeptide creams and facial confromers are wickedly expensive and I have used them.

There seems to be a NERIUM buzz circulating. Has anyone tried it. It is mlm but from the pictures it looks deceiving at best. Cause the people who have used it, that I know, don't look miraculous at 4 months.

In addition, I hear people on the forum talking about mineral oil or is that mag oil? Could someone please elaborate? My hands are super wrinked. they look so aged compared to my facial tone. People 15 to 20 years older than me have better looking hands than me. It's odd. I'm taking a plethora of supplements as I always have. Could anyone give me suggestions...

Best..

Nonstop24 wrote:Hey guys, I'm reading your post about niacinamide and nag. Will 500mg of niacinamide off balance the rest of the b's I take?

Also, with all the facial creams Nicholas Perricione, neocutis, 37, Anteage etc etc..I can't really say I found anything to work miracuously at therir price. Though I do like perricone's moisturizer, his neuropeptide creams and facial confromers are wickedly expensive and I have used them.

There seems to be a NERIUM buzz circulating. Has anyone tried it. It is mlm but from the pictures it looks deceiving at best. Cause the people who have used it, that I know, don't look miraculous at 4 months.

In addition, I hear people on the forum talking about mineral oil or is that mag oil? Could someone please elaborate?  My hands are super wrinked. they look so aged compared to my facial tone. People 15 to 20 years older than me have better looking hands than me. It's odd. I'm taking a plethora of supplements as I always have. Could anyone give me suggestions...

Best..

Perricone's science is interesting, yet come criticize it for a lack of oxidation. Ozonated water, IMO can be thought as of what's missing.


My experiences with nicotinamide is that it does not require much of the other b's support. I think also quantity as 500mg is a good daily dose. Since it's water soluble, i like to put it in water and drink it through the day. 50 mg at a the time is a good dose. There are protocols that suggest use of 250mg multi times a day.

fantastic supplement

I would reccomend, and I hate all supplements as people on this forum know

Are you guys recommending it topically or orally?

And if orally would it make more sense to just take Brewer's yeast as it contains many of the B-vitamins including B3?

unfortunate wrote:Are you guys recommending it topically or orally?

And if orally would it make more sense to just take Brewer's yeast as it contains many of the B-vitamins including B3?

topically and orally are great

nowhere near enough b3 to get the effects wanted in brewers yeast

would someone please send a link of topical and oral niacinamide: a great company. Do you apply the topical to your face?

iuyyighghghgkh wrote:

unfortunate wrote:Are you guys recommending it topically or orally?

And if orally would it make more sense to just take Brewer's yeast as it contains many of the B-vitamins including B3?

topically and orally are great

nowhere near enough b3 to get the effects wanted in brewers yeast

How much do u think is sufficient? And do u recommend other b vitamins with it? Biotin has ways been said to be really great for hair and skin too.

topical doesn't exist

make it yourself

biotin cannot penetrate skin

iuyyighghghgkh wrote:topical doesn't exist

make it yourself

biotin cannot penetrate skin

How much orally?

there was a post at another hairloss forum where a guy claimed that after taking niacin for 6 months, he managed to regrow all of his hair.