Why NIACINAMIDE BURNS & CAUSES REDNESS| Dr Dray

Summary

In this video, dermatologist Andrea discusses common skin reactions to niacinamide, a popular skincare ingredient. Despite its numerous benefits like reducing oiliness and hyperpigmentation, some people experience redness and irritation. She explores potential causes, including allergies, product sensitivity, and high concentrations. Andrea advises sticking to lower concentrations supported by studies and suggests alternatives like green tea and licorice root for similar benefits.

Takeaways

• 🧪 Niacinamide is a popular antioxidant in skincare due to its numerous benefits such as fighting free radicals, aiding skin barrier repair, reducing oiliness, minimizing pore size, and improving hyperpigmentation.
• 🔍 Despite its benefits, some people experience redness, irritation, stinging, and burning when using niacinamide, which can be puzzling given its anti-inflammatory properties.
• 🤔 The exact reason for these adverse reactions is not fully understood, but possible causes include an allergy to niacinamide, sensitivity to other ingredients in the product, or overuse of the ingredient.
• 🏥 Allergic reactions to topical niacinamide are rare, as most skin allergies require previous exposure and sensitization to the allergen.
• 🌐 It's more likely that individuals are sensitive to other components in the skincare product, with preservatives like Binoxi and Ethanol being common irritants for some.
• 💧 Overuse of niacinamide can lead to irritation, as can using multiple products containing the ingredient, which can add up to a concentration higher than what is recommended by studies.
• 📊 Research suggests that beneficial percentages of niacinamide for skin improvement range from 2% to 5%, with no significant advantage to using higher concentrations.
• 🛑 Manufacturers often do not disclose the exact percentage of niacinamide in their products, and higher percentages may be marketed as more effective, which is not necessarily true.
• 🍵 If niacinamide causes irritation, alternative ingredients like green tea, licorice root, and soy can provide similar benefits without the adverse effects.
• 🧬 Sensitivity to skincare products can be influenced by genetics, skin type, and environmental factors, and may vary throughout a person's life.
• 💊 Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3, distinct from Niacin (Nicotinic Acid), which can cause flushing and irritation when applied topically or taken orally.

Q & A

What is niacinamide and why is it commonly found in skincare products?

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3 and an antioxidant found in various skincare products such as creams, serums, toners, and more due to its numerous skin benefits like fighting free radicals, aiding skin barrier repair, reducing oiliness, minimizing pore size, and helping with hyperpigmentation.

Why might niacinamide cause redness, irritation, stinging, or burning for some people despite its benefits?

While the exact reason is not fully understood, it could be due to an allergy to topical niacinamide (which is rare), sensitivity to another ingredient in the product, or overuse of niacinamide-containing products leading to irritation.

Is it possible to be allergic to niacinamide?

Allergic reactions to topical niacinamide are very unlikely and rare. Most skin allergies require previous exposure to sensitize the individual to the allergen.

What is a more common reason for experiencing discomfort from niacinamide products other than an allergy?

A more common reason for discomfort is sensitivity to another ingredient in the product, such as a preservative or inactive ingredient, rather than the niacinamide itself.

What does the term 'overdoing it' refer to in the context of using niacinamide?

Overdoing it refers to using products with high concentrations of niacinamide or using multiple products containing niacinamide simultaneously, which can lead to skin irritation due to excessive amounts.

What are the typical percentages of niacinamide used in studies that have demonstrated skin benefits?

The percentages of niacinamide used in studies that have shown skin benefits range from 2% to a maximum of 5%.

Why might some products on the market contain higher percentages of niacinamide than what is supported by research?

Some manufacturers may use higher percentages of niacinamide to attract consumers under the misconception that higher concentrations are more effective, even though studies do not support concentrations above 5% for skin benefits.

What are some alternative ingredients that can provide similar benefits to niacinamide?

Alternative ingredients that can provide similar benefits to niacinamide include green tea, licorice root, and soy, which can help with inflammation, skin barrier repair, and oiliness.

How might the use of niacinamide in combination with other skincare products affect the skin?

Using niacinamide with other products, especially those with acidic pH like vitamin C serums, could theoretically cause niacinamide to convert to niacin, potentially leading to flushing and irritation, although this is considered unlikely.

What advice does the dermatologist give for individuals who find niacinamide products irritating?

The dermatologist advises to avoid products causing irritation and to consider trying alternative ingredients like green tea, licorice root, or soy if niacinamide is problematic.

What is the role of sunscreen as mentioned by the dermatologist at the end of the video?

Sunscreen is emphasized as an essential part of skincare routine to protect the skin from harmful UV radiation, which is not directly related to niacinamide but is a general skincare recommendation.

Outlines

00:00

🧪 Niacinamide's Benefits and Common Irritations

In this paragraph, dermatologist Andrea discusses the widespread use of niacinamide in skincare products due to its antioxidant properties and numerous skin benefits, such as combating free radicals, aiding skin barrier repair, reducing oiliness, pore size, and redness, and addressing hyperpigmentation. However, she also addresses the common issue of niacinamide causing redness, irritation, stinging, and burning for some individuals. The reasons for these adverse reactions are not entirely clear but could include an allergy to niacinamide, sensitivity to other ingredients in the product, or overuse of the ingredient. Andrea emphasizes that while allergies to niacinamide are rare, sensitivity to other product components or using excessively high concentrations are more likely culprits.

05:00

🔍 Understanding Niacinamide Concentrations and Sensitivities

Andrea continues by cautioning against the use of high concentrations of niacinamide, which can be more irritating. She points out that while some products boast high percentages of niacinamide, studies demonstrating its benefits typically used concentrations between 2% and 5%. Overusing niacinamide or using multiple products containing it can lead to irritation, and individual tolerance levels may vary based on genetics and skin type. The dermatologist also notes that manufacturers often do not disclose the exact percentage of niacinamide in their products, which can mislead consumers into thinking higher concentrations are better. She suggests sticking to concentrations supported by research to avoid unnecessary irritation and highlights alternative ingredients like green tea, licorice root, and soy that can offer similar benefits.

10:03

🌡️ Niacinamide's Stability and Interaction with Other Ingredients

In the final paragraph, the discussion turns to the chemical stability of niacinamide and its potential to convert into niacin, which can cause flushing and irritation when applied to the skin. Andrea explains that while niacinamide is very stable and such conversion is highly unlikely, certain factors like product viscosity and pH levels could theoretically influence this process. She addresses concerns about the use of niacinamide with acidic products like vitamin C serums, suggesting that the acidic pH might cause a minimal conversion to niacin. However, she reassures viewers that the likelihood of this conversion causing problems is low. Andrea concludes by advising viewers to avoid niacinamide if it causes issues and to consider alternative ingredients for similar skin benefits.

Keywords

💡Niacinamide

Niacinamide, also known as Vitamin B3, is a popular ingredient in skincare products due to its antioxidant properties and benefits for the skin such as reducing redness, improving skin barrier function, and minimizing pore size. In the video, it is discussed as a common cause of redness, irritation, and stinging despite its supposed anti-inflammatory properties, highlighting the complexity of how it interacts with different skin types.

💡Redness

Redness refers to the condition where the skin appears flushed or inflamed. The video addresses the paradox that niacinamide, while intended to reduce redness, can cause it in some individuals. This is a key concern discussed by the dermatologist, who explores the reasons behind this reaction.

💡Irritation

Irritation in the context of the video refers to the skin's response to certain substances, which can include redness, stinging, or burning sensations. The script explores why niacinamide might cause irritation for some people, despite its reputation as a beneficial skincare ingredient.

💡Stinging

Stinging is a type of skin irritation that can be caused by various factors, including the use of certain skincare ingredients like niacinamide. The video discusses stinging as one of the adverse reactions some people experience when using products containing niacinamide.

💡Dermatologist

A dermatologist is a medical professional specializing in skin health and diseases. In the video, the speaker, a board-certified dermatologist, provides expert insights into the effects of niacinamide on the skin and why it might cause discomfort for some individuals.

💡Anti-inflammatory

Anti-inflammatory refers to substances that reduce inflammation. Niacinamide is described in the video as an anti-inflammatory ingredient, which is supposed to help with conditions like redness. However, the video also discusses instances where it may cause the opposite effect.

💡Allergic Reaction

An allergic reaction is the body's immune response to a foreign substance. The video script mentions the possibility that some individuals might be allergic to niacinamide, although it is considered very unlikely, and explores this as one potential cause for the adverse skin reactions.

💡Preservative

Preservatives are substances added to products to prevent the growth of bacteria and extend shelf life. The video suggests that a person's sensitivity to a product containing niacinamide might not be due to niacinamide itself but to other ingredients like preservatives that could cause irritation.

💡Skin Barrier

The skin barrier refers to the outermost layer of the skin that protects against environmental factors and prevents moisture loss. Niacinamide is said to help repair and maintain the skin barrier in the video, which is important for skin health and hydration.

💡Hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is a condition characterized by dark patches on the skin due to an excess of melanin. The video mentions that niacinamide can help with hyperpigmentation, but also discusses the possibility of irritation from using products with high concentrations of niacinamide.

💡Concentration

Concentration in the context of skincare products refers to the percentage of a particular ingredient present in the formulation. The video discusses the varying concentrations of niacinamide in products and suggests that higher concentrations may be more irritating, advising viewers to stick to concentrations used in studies for proven benefits.

💡Formulation

Formulation refers to the process of creating a product by combining various ingredients. The video implies that the overall formulation of a skincare product, not just the presence of niacinamide, might be responsible for causing skin irritation or other adverse reactions.

💡Niacin

Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid, is a form of Vitamin B3 like niacinamide but is known to cause flushing and redness when applied to the skin. The video discusses the difference between niacin and niacinamide and the potential, albeit unlikely, conversion of niacinamide to niacin in products as a cause for skin reactions.

💡Sensitivity

Sensitivity in this context refers to the skin's heightened reactivity to certain substances. The video explores the concept of sensitive skin and how it might be related to genetic factors, environmental changes, or other skin conditions, which could influence an individual's reaction to niacinamide.

💡Rosacea

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition characterized by facial redness and sometimes acne-like bumps. The video mentions rosacea as a possible condition that could contribute to an individual's sensitivity to skincare ingredients, including niacinamide.

💡Alternative Ingredients

The video suggests that if niacinamide causes issues for an individual, there are alternative ingredients that can provide similar benefits. Examples given include soy, licorice root, and green tea, which can also help with skin concerns like oiliness and redness.

Highlights

Niacinamide is prevalent in skincare products due to its antioxidant properties and numerous skin benefits.

Niacinamide aids in fighting free radicals and improving the skin's ability to handle UV radiation.

It helps repair the skin barrier, maintaining hydration and reducing irritation.

Niacinamide is known to reduce oiliness, minimize pore size, and decrease redness.

Hyperpigmentation can be addressed with niacinamide, adding to its list of benefits.

Despite benefits, some people experience redness, stinging, and irritation from niacinamide.

Allergic reactions to topical niacinamide are rare, making it an unlikely cause of adverse reactions.

Sensitivity to other ingredients in products, not niacinamide itself, may be the actual irritant.

Overuse of niacinamide can lead to skin irritation, even though it's beneficial in moderate amounts.

High percentages of niacinamide in products can be more irritating than beneficial.

The optimal percentage of niacinamide for skin improvement is between 2% to 5%, as per studies.

Manufacturers often do not disclose the exact percentage of niacinamide in their products.

Cerave products contain niacinamide, but the percentage is not specified and may cause irritation for some.

There's no need to use niacinamide products with percentages higher than 5% based on research.

Alternative ingredients like green tea, licorice root, and soy can provide similar benefits to niacinamide.

Niacinamide is a form of vitamin B3, closely related to niacin which can cause skin flushing.

The conversion of niacinamide to niacin in products is considered unlikely but not impossible.

The nature of a niacin-induced flush is specific and differs from irritant contact dermatitis.

If a product with niacinamide causes irritation, it's recommended to avoid it and try alternative ingredients.

Transcripts

well hey guys in today's video i'm going

to be

talking all about why it is that

niacinamide causes redness

irritation stinging burning for so many

people

if you're new here welcome my name is

andrea i'm a board certified

dermatologist and i would love it if you

would subscribe to my youtube channel

and if you like this content

give this video a thumbs up it really

helps my channel out a lot

niacinamide is everywhere in skincare

creams

serums toners essences sprays lotions

potions

masks can we get a niacinamide tank that

we just dunk our heads in

seriously why is it in so many things

well it's an antioxidant

and it's actually been shown to benefit

the skin in so many ways it can help

fight off free radicals it actually

has been shown to help your skin deal

with ultraviolet radiation a little bit

better

it helps your skin barrier repair itself

so that your skin stays hydrated and

healthy

and resists irritation better and it

also

helps reduce oiliness and it helps

reduce

pore size and it helps minimize redness

and it can help with hyperpigmentation

so why in the heck with something with

so many

scientific backed benefits cause

discomfort redness stinging and

irritation for people i mean it's

supposed to be an anti-inflammatory

ingredient

that helps redness so why does it cause

redness for some people

the short answer is we really don't know

but there are a few possibilities as to

why you may experience these

different symptoms the first possibility

is that

you are allergic to topical niacinamide

this is actually very unlikely and

we don't see this very often so it's

unlikely that you're actually allergic

to it

keep in mind with most skin allergies

meaning

allergies to things that come in contact

with the skin

it requires you to have been exposed to

that

ingredient or substance in the past

and then you become sensitized to it so

it would be very unusual for you to have

a problem with niacinamide

using it for the first time it's very

rare and

for the most part allergic contact

dermatitis to niacinamide is incredibly

incredibly rare

the second possibility i think is far

more common and that is

that you are actually sensitive to

something else in the

product whether it be a preservative or

an inactive ingredient that is helpful

for

formulation overall that for whatever

reason you

are particularly sensitive to in my

experience as a dermatologist many

people will

self-report that certain preservatives

are irritating to their skin

for example the preservative binoxi

ethanol totally a fine ingredient it's

great it keeps

products safe but for some people they

have identified that that ingredient

causes redness and irritation

so it might actually be something else

and niacinamide is just guilty by

association

the third possibility and what i think

is far more likely

is that you are overdoing it niacinamide

while it's beneficial for the skin

you certainly can have too much of a

good thing and if you

scan the labels or really just the front

of the label of most niacinamide

products a lot of them are touting

pretty high levels of niacinamide

if you actually go to the literature

percentages of niacinamide used in the

studies that demonstrated

skin benefit range anywhere from two

percent upwards to five percent

max but you'll find ten percent

niacinamide serum

fifteen percent twelve percent twenty

percent

uh and at higher percentages it's

obvious that niacinamide is a lot more

irritating

and you know that's the case for many

skin care ingredients you can have too

much of a good thing

not only that if you are using a

moisturizer with niacinamide a serum

with niacinamide and a face wash with

niacinamide

that's a lot of niacinamide and it's

likely causing irritation for you

so how much niacinamide is too much

truthfully it probably boils down to

something maybe to do with your genetics

your background skin type as far as how

much you actually can tolerate

so i think it varies a lot from

individual to individual

speaking back to the studies studies

using two percent niacinamide applied to

the skin daily

demonstrated an improvement in oiliness

so if you're seeking that

outcome then don't chase after serums

and whatnot that are advertising higher

percentages you know

it really doesn't get you any better

results and if anything it's just more

irritating

likewise many of the studies looking at

improvement in hyperpigmentation

and redness looked at percentages of

four percent and five percent

so there's absolutely no reason to go

much higher than that

a lot of manufacturers simply don't

disclose the percentage of niacinamide

in a product

i find that people who want to disclose

the percentage are people who put a lot

of niacinamide in their product because

they're trying to

seduce you into buying the product

perhaps making you think that higher is

better but obviously it's not it can be

more irritating and the studies are not

looking at these higher percentages

you know i'm very fond of the cerave

products and

they have niacinamide in them i imagine

at a lower percentage but i don't know

that i don't work for cerave i don't

know what the percentage of sera of

niacinamide in

their moisturizers is but even those

products which

i assume the niacinamide is at a lower

percentage even in those products

a lot of people do report burning and

stinging with their products

and they attribute it perhaps to the

niacinamide but i think it's really more

something to do with the formulation

overall that causes the burning and

stinging

so manufacturers don't make it super

easy for us to figure this out

not to mention the fact that it's going

to boil down to you as an individual and

what your skin can tolerate

and so in my opinion there's really no

need to be using these niacinamide

serums and products that have

niacinamide at

a percentage higher than five percent

let's just stick with what

the studies used uh because we do know

that higher percentages are more

irritating so rather than putting

yourself at risk for irritation

just stick to what what we know works

and if you do find that

niacinamide in any product causes

irritation it's not

it's not an essential ingredient to the

health of your skin

yes niacinamide has benefits for the

skin but it's not an essential

you know there are similar ingredients

that also reduce

inflammation help with skin barrier

repair and help with oiliness

that you know you might elect to try

instead

green tea licorice root

soy these all have similar benefits

so those are the three reasons why you

might have a problem with niacinamide

some people self-report having sensitive

skin and we don't entirely know

why they have sensitive skin and by

sensitive skin i mean they report

symptoms of like burning stinging and

irritation with things that come in

contact

with the skin this may be due to

something in their genetics that just

makes them more sensitive to things

but it also is possible that your skin

becomes sensitive at different periods

of time in your life

due to life changes changes in your

background medical history or changes in

your environment like

for example the humidity in the winter

time

the ambient humidity drops your skin

becomes drier it can become more

sensitive to skin care products

other skin care products that you're

using may be exfoliating they're going

to make your skin more sensitive overall

um hormonal changes pregnancy birth

control these things all can influence

whether or not you have sensitive skin

but some people

you know from cradle to grave go their

whole life with very sensitive hyper

what's called hyper irritable skin like

they just get red really easily

and irritated some of these people may

have a skin condition called rosacea

but others you know they're just very

sensitive so those are the most

kind of obvious reasons why you might

have sensitivity with niacinamide

but let's dive a little bit deeper into

a vitamin b3

niacinamide is a form of vitamin b3 but

another form of vitamin b3 is niacin

or nicotinic acid and niacinamide

is what is obviously in skin care

products but niacin

if it's applied to the skin it will

cause it can

cause flushing and redness and

irritation niacin is also something that

people can take by mouth and pill form

and it too can cause very profound

flushing

niacinamide however it's you know

kissing cousin they're virtually

identical with the exception of one tiny

little change

um niacinamide does not cause that

flushing

when applied topically to the skin now

niacinamide

and niacin they can convert

back and forth niacinamide there's the

possibility that it can convert to

niacin

so you may be wondering well is it

possible that

the niacinamide in my product is being

converted to the niacin form

that causes flushing well it seems

very very very unlikely i'm not a

cosmetic chemist

but i will tell you this niacinamide is

very very very stable

and the rate of it converting over to

niacinamide

in a product has got to be incredibly

low to non-existent

there are a few things that are going to

influence the

extent to which that might occur things

like the viscosity of the product if a

product is a liquid

it's going to be more likely than if

it's

a cream but most products that you apply

to your skin they have some type of

thickener in them

making that very unlikely the other

thing is

the ph at a more acidic ph you might

expect to get

some conversion of niacinamide to

nicotinic acid and this becomes relevant

and of a concern to people who are using

niacinamide

with vitamin c like topical vitamin c

serums

now as you guys know from my videos

topical vitamin c

products they need to be in an acidic ph

in order for the vitamin c to actually

get into the skin

so there is some theoretical worry that

the acidic ph of the vitamin c serum

could cause the niacinamide to convert

to

niacin and cause flushing but even that

has not really it's not likely that

that's happening

but it is possible that it's happening

at some low low low level

um it's just you know i don't i can't

say for sure

i can't say it's not happening it seems

unlikely

but it you know it's something that i

suppose on some low level

is happening and it may be at a level

that's just enough

to cause problems for you

the other thing to keep in mind though

is the nature of a niacin induced flush

is pretty specific

a niacin induced flush which is

basically facial redness with

application of niacin

it should occur diffusely to the area

within the area that the niacin is

applied and

it's accompanied by kind of a tingling

and a tingling sensation and a warmth

and then goes away

as opposed to an irritant contact

dermatitis

result that's due to maybe the acidic ph

of like your vitamin c serum that's

going to persist

that's what i can tell you guys about

niacinamide and your skin care products

and why it may be causing problems for

you the most likely culprit

is either you're using too much or

there's something else in the product

that is causing issue for you

it's very unlikely that you have a true

allergy to it and it's unlikely that

it's being converted to

niacin the form that definitely causes

flush

but pay attention you know if if you

have noticed that any product with

niacinamide no matter whether or not the

concentration is disclosed or not if it

causes problems for you

then avoid it and there are other

ingredients that yield similar benefits

uh soy and licorice root

green tea these can all help oiliness

skin barrier function

hyperpigmentation redness so if you're

having issue with niacinamide you know

stop spinning your wheels and just

abandon it it's not an essential

i hope this video was helpful to you

guys if you liked it give it a thumbs up

share it with your friends and as always

don't forget sunscreen and subscribe

i'll talk to you guys tomorrow

bye

[Music]

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