Vitamins Series: Let’s Discuss Vitamin B3!
Hey, guys! I know, I know…I’ve been away for a while. If I were to explain the series of unfortunate events that has been my life the past few weeks, this would be a novella. To sum it all up, I am currently recovering from a TBI (traumatic brain injury).
So, yea. You can imagine what I’ve been going through. Migraines. Hospital visits. Awful vision. Memory Loss. Lack of appetite. Depression. Lack of coordination. More hospital visits. Luckily, I am finally feeling well enough to write — or simply LOOK at a computer screen again! Woop-Woop!!! *insert happy face and dancing emojis* Now, without further ado, let’s get right into the final Vitamins Series post! To be completely honest, I had forgotten about this post. Hehe. Get it? No? Is it too soon to make jokes about my memory loss? LOL.
You’ve heard of niacinamide, but what does it actually do?
**Just like the previous post, this one is going to be formatted slightly different**
Niacinamide is a water-soluble vitamin that is derived from niacin. It is multifunctional and is applied topically. It can easily penetrate the skin, meaning it has a low molecular weight, and it also is suitable for all skin types, including sensitive. Let’s focus on specific skin concerns that niacinamide can treat.
Oily/acne prone skin
Controls sebum production and maintains clear pores. Clear pores mean fewer breakouts!
Acts as a tyrosinase inhibitor and prevents the formation of melanin deposits in the skin, which is crucial in treating dark spots. I wrote about tyrosinase inhibitors in depth here.
Dry/Damaged skin
Niacinamide can repair the skin’s moisture barrier by producing collagen and elastin (known as fibroblasts). These then work to increase the skin’s naturally-occurring ceramides and fatty acids, which form up your moisture barrier and work to aid against TEWL (transepidermal water loss).
Aging skin
By increasing the skin’s elastin content, it decreases wrinkling and makes the skin appear more youthful and supple.
