Does niacinamide cause purging or breakouts? Niacinamide isn't typically known to cause purging, but some people may experience mild breakouts as their skin adjusts. These usually clear up within a few weeks.
Bumps after using niacinamide could be a sign of an allergic reaction or sensitivity to the product. They may also indicate purging, where the skin initially reacts before improving.
If you're usually sensitive to new skin care products or ingredients, use niacinamide products with lower doses at first before using those with higher strengths of niacinamide. If you have any reaction to niacinamide, stop using it and see a dermatologist.
To be sure it's safe, though, always apply niacinamide products to a test area of skin and observe for reactions. If you experience redness, itchiness, or further irritation, stop its use and consult a professional.
Purging often results in whiteheads and small raised red bumps on the skin, known as papules. True breakouts are more likely to induce nodules or cysts - larger, swollen, painful pimples that feel like knots under the skin. Purging usually appears where acne is common, like the forehead, cheeks, and chin.
Purging should end if the breakouts last longer than these 6 weeks. Purging usually occurs when you start a new skincare product that accelerates the turnover rate of your skin cells. The most common culprits behind purging are acids (AHA, BHA), retinoids, vitamin C, or even niacinamide.
Niacinamide-containing foods or supplements are safe when taken in doses lower than 35 mg daily. Niacinamide is possibly safe when taken in doses up to 900-1500 mg daily. It might cause side effects such as stomach upset, gas, dizziness, headache, and rash. When applied to the skin: Niacinamide is possibly safe.
But wait—don't just use any pimple sticker: According to Dr. Zeichner, it's best to keep things simple and go for plain hydrocolloid. “Certain soothing actives [like niacinamide] can be helpful, but with an open wound the goal is to just support healing without increasing any potential for irritation,” he explains.
Now, most people can tolerate niacinamide well even at 10% twice daily. But if you have a mysterious skin rash or unexplained irritation, it could be time to take a closer look at your niacinamide levels.
How long does Niacinamide take to work? Using 5% or 10% Niacinamide-containing products show better effects with no skin problems like irritation. Most studies show that even though you may find improvement immediately after starting Niacinamide, it usually takes anywhere between 8-12 weeks for a visible change.
DON'T MIX: AHA/BHA and niacinamide
Niacinamide is used to treat hyperpigmentation and reduce fine lines and wrinkles, while alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are chemical exfoliants. To understand why niacinamide shouldn't be mixed with AHAs and BHAs, you need to consider pH.
If you happen to be in the unlucky minority who have a bad reaction to a product with niacinamide, there are three primary possibilities: you're allergic, there's another ingredient causing irritation, or you're using too much.
As with most acne treatments, niacinamide takes time to work and you should allow for twelve weeks of use before determining whether or not the product has worked for you.
In other words, when you use certain products, your skin is likely to look worse before it looks better. A purge can look like blackheads and whiteheads, and it's likely to appear in the places where you normally break out.
Niacinamide does not cause any pimples as it is gentle on most people of all skin types. But it might irritate if it is used in larger quantities.
In general, niacinamide is considered suitable for all skin types and, per the Cleveland Clinic, is rarely associated with side effects. Still, as with any skincare ingredient, it's best to introduce it to your skincare routine slowly to help minimize the potential for redness or irritation.
Even with a good skincare routine, breakouts can still happen if the routine isn't matched to your skin's specific needs. Your skin might benefit from tweaking the products you use, possibly changing ingredients or dosages in your acne treatments.
Niacin users often experience “prickly heat” or a sense of warmth in the face, neck, ears, trunk, and, less frequently, the upper or lower extremities. Other common features include erythema, itching, and tingling. Symptoms typically last for less than 1 hour to 2.5 hours.
The blemishes caused by purging are usually smaller, come to a head quicker and heal faster. Breakouts, however, can vary widely in appearance, including blackheads, whiteheads, deeper cystic spots or hormonal acne along the jawline. They might heal slowly and can range in size and severity.
During this turbulent time for your skin, it is important to be kind to it. Stick to a gentle and basic skin care routine to avoid further inflammation; a gentle cleanser, a soothing hydrating moisturiser, and sunscreen during the day. Don't stop using the product that has triggered the purge, but do limit its use.
Breaking out is when your skin is reacting because it is sensitive to something in the new product. You may get spots in a new area that you don't typically and they take longer to go away. If your skin is reacting with a breakout, you should stop using the product.