Keeping the skin healthy is a chore than can get surprisingly challenging, especially as people get older. Among the host of different products designed to help keep the skin looking its best, niacinamide serum is becoming particularly popular. Here’s a brief overview of what these serums contain and how they help skin looking youthful.

Niacin Vs. Niacinamide

Niacin, also known as vitamin B3, is a common nutrient that the human body requires in regular doses. Like many vitamins, it is water-soluble, meaning that the body cannot build up reserves of the compound. Niacin is used for a variety of different medical treatments, especially lowering levels of harmful cholesterol.

Niacinamide is a naturally-occurring chemical cousin of niacin that the body itself creates. While it does not have all of the same beneficial effects (it has virtually no impact on cholesterol levels), it does have all of the same effects as the original compound when considered as a vitamin. This makes it an excellent substance for a number of different uses, particularly in caring for the skin. Niacin and niacinamide are easily convertible between each other, both inside the body and in the laboratory.

Over that past few years, many different skin care products containing niacinamide have come on the market. As with many beauty products, the beneficial effects of this ingredient have often been overstated by marketers, but many of niacinamide’s positive effects have been verified by research. It serves as an effective way to treat a number of skin issues, including fighting the signs of aging.

Niacinamide helps maintain an even, healthy skin tone, eliminating both blotchiness and dullness. It acts as a barrier to the infrared portion of sunlight. It boosts the performance of the most delicate parts of the immune system in the skin and also strengthens the epidermal lipid barrier that keeps skin moisturized. This also helps keep the skin’s natural oil levels in balance, preventing it from either drying out or getting oily.

Advantages

Niacinamide serum that provide at least a 5 percent concentration of this nutrient have become particularly popular lately. These are sold in multiple forms; some brands focus almost exclusively on their niacinamide content while others include many other skin-friendly ingredients. Niacinamide products are used to reduce the appearance of aging effects in the skin, prevent sun damage, and help control acne.

Niacinamide is an excellent skin nutrient on its own. Applying a topical serum or cream with niacinamide delivers the nutrient exactly where it will do the most good. This makes it far more effective than niacin taken as a dietary supplement. Supplemental niacin can cause some unpleasant (although not permanently serious) side effects when taken in large doses; serums do not suffer from this drawback.

Niacinamide is a common, easy-to-manufacture vitamin compound that makes a terrific ingredient for skin care serums. Unlike some of the trendy skin care substances that have popped up in recent years (especially “anti-aging” compounds), niacinamide is relatively affordable and surprisingly effective. This makes a serum with niacinamide an excellent buy for anyone who’s interested in showing their skin a little tender loving care.