7 Reasons Vitamin B3 Should be a Part of Your Skin Care Routine

With so many skincare products out there, it can be hard to choose just one.

At the same time, not all skincare products are the same. 

Some can actually make your skin look and feel much worse. The last thing you want is to bring home a lotion or a mask that ends up drying out your skin or causing some type of irritation.

Enter vitamin B3, also known as niacinamide or niacin.

This is one of the best natural solutions for glowing and beautiful skin. And, there’s a ton of science and research to back that up.

So, here are seven reasons to add vitamin B3 to your skincare routine.

Prevents Skin From Drying Out

You might feel like there’s not much more you can do when it comes to flaky and dry skin.

You already drink 64 ounces of water per day. Yet, the smoothness of your skin doesn’t seem to be improving.

Vitamin B3 might just be your saving grace.

This nutrient plays a vital role in maintaining skin moisture. When your skin is more hydrated, it looks healthier, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and makes your skin appear more youthful.

Plus, your skin doesn’t need to be dry 24/7 to make good use of vitamin B3.

It can be beneficial as soon as you get out of a steaming hot shower. That’s because hot water actually dries out your skin.

Boosts Anti-Aging Effects

As soon as you hit your 30s and 40s, you’ll start the hunt for miracle creams to make you look younger. The problem is that a lot of anti-aging products don’t work as advertised.

The good news?

Vitamin B3 is sometimes considered an antioxidant. And, antioxidants play a vital role in maintaining a youthful body and appearance. 

That’s because antioxidants help to fight off free radicals. These free radicals are molecules within the body that begin to destroy the body’s cells little by little.

That includes your skin cells.

Add antioxidants to your skincare routine through vitamin B3. Then you can restore a more youthful appearance to your skin while reducing wrinkles.

Clears Up Acne

If you experience persistent acne, your skin likely often feels oily to the touch. So, the purpose of anti-acne cleansers and creams is to draw out this extra oil that’s causing the acne to develop.

But, there’s a problem with these products.

They have a history of going overboard when it comes to drying out your skin.

Vitamin B3 is a reliable alternative to these formulas. There are several reasons for that. 

The first is that vitamin B3 helps to put a stop to excess oil production. With less oil on the surface of your skin, there’s a much lower risk of developing pimples or blackheads.

Second, vitamin B3 produces an anti-inflammatory effect. This can make any lingering acne look far less severe.

Brightens Your Skin

Lightening your skin can be a difficult task, especially if you don’t want to use harsh chemicals that can potentially damage your skin.

Vitamin B3 can be a safer alternative.

Here’s why.

Vitamin B3 is very effective at reducing dark spots. These dark spots commonly occur with the aging process, but also as a result of exposure to UV light.

This discoloration isn’t necessarily harmful to your skin health, but it does impact your skin’s appearance. By reducing these dark spots and discoloration, you can help make yourself look younger and healthier. 

Might Prevent Skin Cancer

Approximately 20% of Americans will develop some form of skin cancer in their lifetime. While there are pretty advanced treatments for skin cancer treatment, you want to avoid this type of diagnosis in the first place.

Vitamin B3 is more than capable of this, thanks to the antioxidants found in this nutrient. 

But, just how effective is this nutrient in preventing skin cancer?

According to recent studies, taking vitamin B3 supplements might reduce your risk of some types of skin cancer by close to 23%. So, not only can you apply your vitamin B3 directly onto the surface of your skin, but you can also take supplements to see similar results.

The best part is that there are very few side effects associated with these strategies.

You Can Get It From Food

As much as topical vitamin B3 might influence the appearance and health of your skin, consuming higher amounts in your diet can help even more.

But, vitamin B3 isn’t really an optional nutrient.

Not only does your body not make its own version of vitamin B3, but a deficiency in this nutrient can cause skin problems and digestive issues.

So, here are some foods high in vitamin B3:

• Dairy products like milk
• Most types of meat and fish
• Seeds, nuts, or legumes
• Eggs
• Pumpkin

Try to add these foods into your diet as often as possible to keep your vitamin B3 levels stable.

It Has Other Benefits, Too

Vitamin B3 does much more than improve your skin health. It targets nearly every system in your body in some way or another.

Here’re four more powerful benefits:

1. Reduced gastrointestinal distress (diarrhea, nausea, etc.)
2. Improved brain health and thinking processes
3. Cardiovascular improvements (lower cholesterol and triglycerides)
4. Greater immune system functioning (lower risk of getting sick)

Just keep in mind that there are limitations regarding how much vitamin B3 you should be consuming. More than two grams per day can lead to gastrointestinal discomfort and a “flushed” feeling.

Conclusion

The topical application of vitamin B3 can do wonders for the health of your skin. Vitamin B3 is effective in keeping your skin smooth, reducing the effects of aging, and even preventing the development of skin cancer.

You can also enhance the skin benefits of vitamin B3 by consuming a diet that’s rich in this nutrient. That includes foods like nuts and seeds, meat, or fish.