.
Set delivery address
Change
Set delivery address
Change

Why niacinamide deserves a place in your pigmentation-busting toolkit

13 November 2019 | Anna-Bet Stemmet

So, what’s the big deal about niacinamide and skin health? Read on to find out.

/medias/Why-niacinamide-should-be-in-your-pigmentation-busting-toolkit-520.jpeg?context=bWFzdGVyfEFydGljbGVJbWFnZXN8NjA3NjV8aW1hZ2UvanBlZ3xBcnRpY2xlSW1hZ2VzL2g3MS9oM2EvOTYxMDY2NzYyMjQzMC5qcGd8MWNmY2E1NTc0YzJhOTMyMzJlNjEzMmI4Mzg2ZTY2NTU1YmE1MmY5MjIzZjY2YzE5MTAyMTI3YzBlYjgxZjI5YQ

Skin pigmentation is one of life’s ultimate bummers. If you’ve ever had to deal with this issue, you’ve probably tried all kinds of facial cleansers, moisturisers and masks in order to improve the appearance of your skin. It can sometimes seem that there is a new pigmentation product on the shelves every month, and the ingredients can get confusing. 

Case in point: niacinamide. It’s the hottest new pigmentation-busting ingredient on the market, but what exactly is it? Jeanine Giot, owner and skincare therapist at Jentl Health & Skin Care in Cape Town, is here to answer all our niacinamide questions and explain how it can contribute to the management of pigmentation. 

Niacinamide is a miracle skin vitamin

“Niacinamide is a derivative of Vitamin B3 and a wonderful skin health vitamin in general,” explains Jeanine. “Pure niacinamide as it’s prepared in the lab has the same impact on the skin as hydroquinone, without all the potential side effects. It’s a great ingredient that promotes overall skin health and it’s very anti-inflammatory, which is why it is found in many anti-acne products.” 

“You'll also find that it plays a role in formulations that address everything from rosacea and excessively oily skin to premature ageing because it strengthens the skin barrier and boosts collagen production. In short – it's wonderful!”

But what about pigmentation?  

The simple explanation is that niacinamide slows down the transfer of the melanin, which is the brown pigment that gives our skin colour, from the melanocytes to the keratinocytes at the surface of the skin.   

“We're all born with a certain number of melanocytes, which is what gives each of us our unique skin tone,” says Jeanine. “Pigmentation is basically the result of a melanocyte that went a little hyperactive. There are a lot of things that can trigger it, from hormones to a lack of proper sun protection. Niacinamide reduces the rate of transfer and complements other pigmentation-fighting ingredients that are available on the market. It's great at protecting the skin against the effects of free radicals, which in turn reduces the likelihood of skin cancer.” 

How to get a good dose of niacinamide

Would you like to include Vitamin B3 in your skincare regime? If so, you can either ask your therapist to recommend a skincare product that includes in its formulation, or you can choose to incorporate foods in your diet that contain high levels of the vitamin naturally. These include eggs, peanuts, sardines, cottage cheese, pumpkin seeds, tuna and anchovies.

Tip: If you go the fish route, remember to check the SASSI list to see if your food choices are contributing to a sustainable marine economy. 

 

IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com

Products featured in this article


Latest promotions

See all promotions