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Skin

Niacinamide: the research history.

Niacinamide appears across the skincare catalog at several concentrations and in several combinations. It is also called nicotinamide, an alias included in this literature search.

30,436records matching the ingredient search
8connected formulations
7displayed publication records

How the research connects to the formula

The displayed 2005 study used 5% niacinamide in a split-face comparison over twelve weeks. The 2002 paper combined laboratory work with clinical pigmentation studies. Those designs answer different questions and should retain their separate populations and formulations.

Some HealthRX.com formulations pair niacinamide with tretinoin, others with pigmentation ingredients or salicylic acid, zinc oxide and urea. An individual niacinamide study helps explain one ingredient’s history while leaving the whole-blend result as a separate question.

Current HealthRX.com formulation map
ProductListed formulationConnected ingredient research
Tretinoin + Niacinamide CreamTretinoin + Niacinamide 4% + Hyaluronic AcidTretinoin · Niacinamide · Hyaluronic acid
Hydroquinone 8% CreamHydroquinone 8% / Tretinoin / Vitamin C / NiacinamideHydroquinone · Tretinoin · Vitamin C · Niacinamide
Dapsone Acne CreamDapsone 3% / Tretinoin 0.07% / Niacinamide 4%Dapsone · Tretinoin · Niacinamide
Rosacea Cream (Oxymetazoline + Ivermectin)Oxymetazoline 0.88% / Ivermectin 0.88% / Niacinamide 4%Oxymetazoline · Ivermectin · Niacinamide
Azelaic Acid CreamAzelaic Acid 5% / Tretinoin 0.03% / Niacinamide 4%Azelaic acid · Tretinoin · Niacinamide
Hydroquinone / Kojic Acid / Niacinamidehydroquinone 6%, kojic acid 6% and niacinamide 5%Hydroquinone · Kojic acid · Niacinamide
Salicylic Acid / Zinc Oxide / Niacinamide / Ureasalicylic acid 2%, zinc oxide 5%, niacinamide 8% and urea 2%Salicylic acid · Zinc oxide · Niacinamide · Urea
Tretinoin / Niacinamide / Vitamin Ctretinoin 0.05%, niacinamide 5% and vitamin C 5%Tretinoin · Niacinamide · Vitamin C

Publication history

When the ingredient appeared in the literature

The chart counts records mentioning the search terms in their title or abstract. It includes research beyond skin. Use the period controls to inspect the count.

2026: 1,324 indexed publications. 2026 includes publications dated through October 5. The earlier bars cover longer periods than the annual bars.

View the chart as a data table
PeriodPublications
1900-1959292
1960-1969959
1970-19791977
1980-19891937
1990-19992733
2000-20094289
2010-20143767
2015-20194720
20201237
20211359
20221441
20231344
20241490
20251567
20261324
Search query and data source

Source: Europe PMC’s PubMed-indexed records. Retrieved October 5, 2026. The index’s firstPublicationDate field supplies the dates and chart periods; it can normalize a month-only record to the first day of the month. Dates through October 5 are included. Counts can change as the index adds or corrects records.

TITLE_ABS:((niacinamide OR nicotinamide)) AND SRC:MED AND FIRST_PDATE:[1900-01-01 TO 2026-10-05]

Open this literature search · Download the data

Dated publications

Read individual records in context

The timeline combines selected references with a sample from the ingredient search. Dates use the index’s firstPublicationDate field; the PubMed record may distinguish an earlier online date from the print date. Written study notes appear alongside the records that have them. Other entries show the indexed bibliography and link to the paper.

Clinical Trial · Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't · Randomized Controlled Trial · Journal Article

The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer.

Hakozaki T, Minwalla L, Zhuang J, Chhoa M, Matsubara A, Miyamoto K, Greatens A, Hillebrand GG, Bissett DL, Boissy RE. The British journal of dermatology. PMID 12100180.

Study design
Laboratory experiments and separate human pigmentation studies
What was tested
Niacinamide in pigmentation models and topical clinical comparisons, including 5% and 2% preparations.
What was reported
The investigators reported reduced melanosome transfer in a cell model and pigmentation differences in the clinical comparisons.
How it connects to the catalog
The laboratory and clinical experiments have separate designs and endpoints. Their percentages and preparations should not be merged into one result.
Read the PubMed record · Publisher record

Study comparison

PublicationDesign and regimenReported findingInterpretation
2002-07-01: The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer.Laboratory experiments and separate human pigmentation studies. Niacinamide in pigmentation models and topical clinical comparisons, including 5% and 2% preparations.The investigators reported reduced melanosome transfer in a cell model and pigmentation differences in the clinical comparisons.The laboratory and clinical experiments have separate designs and endpoints. Their percentages and preparations should not be merged into one result.
2005-07-01: Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance.Randomized, double-blind split-face study, 50 women. Topical niacinamide 5% versus its vehicle twice daily for 12 weeks.Several measured appearance outcomes, including fine lines, pigmentation and elasticity, improved on the niacinamide-treated side.The result describes the study's niacinamide formulation and population. It does not test every combination containing 5% niacinamide.

Questions that shape the comparison

Was the niacinamide tested alone or with other ingredients? Which concentration and appearance measure were used?

Source records

The effect of niacinamide on reducing cutaneous pigmentation and suppression of melanosome transfer.Hakozaki T, Minwalla L, Zhuang J, Chhoa M, Matsubara A, Miyamoto K, Greatens A, Hillebrand GG, Bissett DL, Boissy RE.The British journal of dermatology. 2002-07-01. PMID 12100180. Clinical Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Randomized Controlled Trial, Journal Article.
Niacinamide: A B vitamin that improves aging facial skin appearance.Bissett DL, Oblong JE, Berge CA.Dermatologic surgery : official publication for American Society for Dermatologic Surgery [et al.]. 2005-07-01. PMID 16029679. Clinical Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Randomized Controlled Trial, Journal Article.
Niacinamide modulation by hemocyanin shapes hemolymph microbial communities in Penaeid shrimp.Bao S, Jiang M, Aweya JJ, Zhang Y, Zhao X, Zhao Y, Yang C, Li S, Zheng Z, Zhang Y.ISME communications. 2026-01-01. PMID 42266460. research-article, Journal Article.
Fast, easy and green method for the first quantification of niacinamide in serums and creams by digital image analysis using iron (III) chloride.Lambarri A, Ostra M, Bordagaray A, Garcia-Arrona R, Vidal M.Mikrochimica acta. 2026-05-22. PMID 42168650. Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, research-article, Journal Article.
Comment on "Decreased risk of cardiovascular disease in dermatology patients taking niacinamide: A TriNetX cohort study".Li C, Pan L.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2026-09-07. PMID 42705349. Letter.
Response to Li et al, "Comment on 'Decreased risk of cardiovascular disease in dermatology patients taking niacinamide: A TriNetX cohort study'".Salem Y, Liaqat M, Gonna N, Zamil D, Abu-Ghosh F, Merie A, Cassimatis D, Orengo I.Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2026-09-07. PMID 42705348. Letter.
Corrigendum to "Encouraging collagen and epithelial layer formation via poly (lactic acid) / hyaluronic acid hybrid wound dressing containing niacinamide" [Int. J. Biol. Macromol. Volume 306, Part 2 (2025) 141463].Shams S, Shahrousvand M, Mohammadi-Rovshandeh J, Moghaddam AB, Heidari V, Esmaeili J.International journal of biological macromolecules. 2026-09-25. PMID 42791091. Published Erratum.

Research data assembled by HealthRX.com from the displayed source records, October 5, 2026. The atlas contains a dated literature search and selected studies; it is not an exhaustive systematic review.