Creative Touch Permanent Makeup and Aesthetics

Niacin (vitamin B3) encompasses two primary dietary forms – nicotinic acid and nicotinamide (niacinamide) – both of which are converted to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺) and its phosphate form (NADP⁺) in tissue. NAD⁺ and NADP⁺ are the biologically active coenzyme forms through which vitamin B3 exerts its cellular effects, functioning as electron carriers in over 400 enzymatic reactions including energy metabolism, DNA repair, and gene expression regulation.

In skin specifically, nicotinamide is the form relevant to cosmeceutical application and the subject of the substantial evidence base for topical B3 in dermatology. Nicotinic acid is not used topically-— at systemic doses it produces a prostaglandin-mediated vasodilation flush response that nicotinamide does not share.

The full mechanistic treatment of niacinamide’s skin activity – including SPT upregulation for ceramide synthesis, SIRT1-mediated fibroblast NAD⁺ replenishment, SASP reduction in senescent fibroblasts, anti- glycation activity through glyoxalase support, and the complete clinical context is covered in the Niacinamide entity.