Niacinamide has been proven by numerous scientific studies in recent years to be an excellent active ingredient with a broad profile for the skin.
Niacinamid
It is a building block of the coenzymes NAD+ and NADH with great importance for many metabolic processes, especially for energy metabolism, for immunological surveillance, for DNA repair and last but not least also for skin condition. Niacinamide is therefore highly relevant for maintaining the health of all organs. It is interesting that the positive effects for niacinamide can be observed both with internal intake and with local application.
In 2015, an important study from Australia (Chen AC et al., N Engl J Med) showed in 386 patients that the twice-daily intake of 500 mg niacinamide significantly reduced the incidence of light skin cancer in high-risk patients. Niacinamide also seems to have a positive influence on the course of numerous inflammatory skin changes.
In aesthetic dermatology, niacinamide is also increasingly coming into focus for healthy skin, as the active ingredient has meanwhile been convincing in many studies, all of which reported impressive improvements in the structure and function of the skin after prolonged application.
Origin and local application of niacinamide
Our body can absorb niacin (formerly also called vitamin B3) or niacinamide with food (e.g. legumes, nuts, mushrooms, fish, meat) or produce it itself, as long as the amino acid tryptophan is supplied with food. This supply is always guaranteed in a balanced diet. Niacin is therefore not a true vitamin, but is often referred to as vitamin B3 for historical reasons. Niacin and niacinamide can be converted into each other in our body. Since niacinamide has a higher tolerance than niacin and is also very stable in a processed state, niacinamide is usually used for local application on the skin.
Application in high concentration
As niacinamide is very well tolerated by the skin, it can be applied locally in high concentrations (up to 20%). A small amount of hyaluronic acid (0.3%) has been added to the (13) Niacin Serum 20% from the TetCode4 series by Prof. Dr. Steinkraus, which gives the product noticeably nourishing properties and makes it particularly pleasant to apply. The slightly bluish colour of the serum is due to copper ions that strengthen the connective tissue.
Niacin Serum 20% - Stand-alone
Niacin Serum 20% is a stand-alone product. This means that it stands alone or can be integrated into any skincare routine. The serum can easily be applied after cleansing the face before applying the skincare or it can be integrated between all skincare steps. Before applying the face care (e.g. Face Care Light, Medium or Rich), the serum should be allowed to absorb for 2-3 minutes.
In the TetCode4 routine, the evening Hyaluron Serum could be replaced by the Niacin Serum.
Conclusion: Along with vitamins A and C and hyaluronic acid, niacinamide is now considered another cornerstone of evidence-based and protective skin care. Niacinamide is an effective active ingredient whose regular use leads to improved skin structure and function.
