What is the difference between niacinamide and niacin? Can fruit acid and niacinamide be used together?

Nicotinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is an amide compound of nicotinic acid. It is a white crystalline powder, odorless or almost odorless, bitter, easily soluble in water or ethanol, and soluble in glycerin. Nicotinamide has the effect of whitening and brightening the skin, so we often see this substance in the ingredient list of some cosmetics. The following is an introduction to the difference between nicotinamide and nicotinic acid, I hope it will be useful to you.

Contents of this article

1. The difference between niacinamide and niacin

2. Can fruit acid and niacinamide be used together?

3. Who should not use niacinamide?

Difference Between Niacinamide and Niacin

The most basic difference between niacin and niacinamide is that the latter is a derivative of the former. Niacinamide is a compound called an amide, which is composed of a nitrogen atom and a carbonyl group (C=O). All amides contain this compound, and the body can convert niacin into niacinamide.

Niacin is mainly used as a feed additive to improve the utilization rate of feed protein, increase the milk production of dairy cows, and increase the output and quality of meat from poultry and livestock such as fish, chicken, duck, cattle, and sheep.

Niacin appears as white or slightly yellow crystals and is soluble in water. It is mainly found in animal offal and muscle tissue, and is also found in trace amounts in fruits and egg yolks. It belongs to the B vitamin family.

Nicotinamide, also known as nicotinamide, is an amide compound of nicotinic acid. It is a white crystalline powder, odorless or almost odorless, bitter in taste, easily soluble in water or ethanol, and soluble in glycerol.

Can AHA and Niacinamide be used together?

It is recommended not to use fruit acid and niacinamide together. Using niacinamide and fruit acid together will produce niacin, which is a substance that is harmful to the skin. Fruit acid has the effect of removing dead skin cells, and niacinamide has the effect of whitening and brightening. The two can be used alternately every other day, but it is best not to mix them.

Nicotinamide is alkaline and its stability will decrease in an acidic environment. In a strong acid environment with a pH value of less than 3.5, nicotinamide will decompose and convert into niacin.

Therefore, niacinamide cannot be used together with fruit acid or other acidic products.

Who should not use niacinamide?

1. Sensitive skin

Although niacinamide has the effect of removing acne, it is a highly irritating ingredient. Using niacinamide on sensitive skin can easily cause skin barrier damage and cause irreparable skin damage.

2. Do not try blindly on skin with large acne areas

Niacinamide acne removal can only be used for small areas of acne-prone skin. Do not use this method if you have a lot of acne on your face, so as to avoid causing skin damage and secondary skin damage.