What to do to prevent niacinamide purging
Although niacinamide does not cause purging. You can try the following things to prevent purging before ruling it out altogether.
- Search for products with 4-5 percent niacinamide instead of 10 percent as they are less likely to cause breakouts
- Use the products moderately, because frequent use may be too much for the skin to tolerate
- Always patch test. This is the best way to prevent a reaction to a skincare product. Make sure you test it on a small patch of skin before using it on your skin. You can also use it in a place that represents where you want to use it but is more discreet such as the jawline or the back of your ear. Use it daily for at least 5 days and if you do not notice any strange reaction then you are safe.
- It is vital to ask your doctor or dermatologist for a prescription because these niacinamide products have lesser ingredients and usually have 4 percent strength.
- Avoid using any new skincare product or ingredients until existing irritations clear up.
Niacinamide cannot increase skin cell turnover which means that they don’t cause purging. However, it can cause breaking out. They reduce the amount of sebum produced by the skin and improve hydration. You should avoid scrubbing or exfoliating the bumps because it can cause more inflammation.
It can be very difficult to know the exact ingredient causing the symptoms, this is why it is important to speak to a dermatologist regularly.
Conclusion
If you experience a reaction after using niacinamide, it is mostly not purging. Because purging happens when an ingredient elevates skin cell turnover and niacinamide does not have this effect on the skin.
References
[1] https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements-niacin/art-20364984
[2] https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/hsph-in-the-news/the-importance-of-hydration/#:~:text=Drinking%20enough%20water%20each%20day,quality%2C%20cognition%2C%20and%20mood.
[3] https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/sebum
[4] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjd.12536
[5] https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/12233-acne#:~:text=Acne%20is%20a%20common%20skin,know%20you’re%20not%20alone.
[6] https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/retinoids#:~:text=Retinoids%20are%20a%20class%20of,in%20immunity%20and%20skin%20health.