Acne vs. Acne Scars: How Niacinamide Tackles Both

Acne vs. Acne Scars: How Niacinamide Tackles Both

Painful bumps, redness, inflammation – people with acne know the struggle too well. However, it doesn’t end here. In case of severe acne like nodules and cystic lumps, one is more likely to experience post-breakout scarring. For those unaware, acne scarring begins when your skin is trying to heal itself and can hamper an individual's confidence.  

If you too have acne and/or scarring, place your trust in Niacinamide for your daily routine. This skincare workhorse flattens nasty bumps while fading depressions over time. If you're wondering how the Vitamin B3 derivative achieves this feat, you have landed on the right page. Keep reading this blog. But before we get to the cheat sheet, let’s delve into the problem.  

What Is Acne?  

Acne occurs when sebum and dead cells clog the pores on your face. Furthermore, when bacteria occupy these legions and grow, it leads to redness and swelling. Acne or acne vulgaris can look different for different individuals. Scroll ahead for acne's varied types- 

1. Whiteheads: These yellowish bumps occur when dead cells and oils plug the pores on your skin’s surface. However, due to their smaller openings, air doesn’t enter these comedones.

2. Blackheads: Just like whiteheads, clogged pores lead to blackheads too. The difference? Blackheads have bigger openings on the skin’s surface – allowing air to enter and oxidize melanin for the dark hue.  

3. Papules: These are tiny, pale bumps that are tender to touch.  

4. Pustules: While these bumps resemble papules, they are filled with pus, making them painful to touch.  

5. Nodules: These are lumps formed deep within the skin due to clogged pores. Nodules often result in scarring on the face.  

6. Cystic Acne: The most severe form of acne, Cystic lumps hardly heal on their own – demanding immediate medical attention. 

Understanding Acne Scars  

To reiterate, acne scars set in right after the inflammation subsides on your face. They occur post pimples, nodules, or cystic lumps have healed. To minimize the risk of scarring, we recommend treating acne breakouts right away. Also, a word to the wise –popping pimples can make scars or depressions deeper seated. 

To address acne scarring, one must understand its different types  

1. Atrophic scars: Atrophic scars are further divided into 3 categories   

a. Ice-pick scars: These are narrow holes in the skin – often occurring because of cystic acne.  

b. Boxcar scars: These depressions are wider, more defined, and have an angular edge.  

c. Rolling scars: These scars have a rolling, wave-like appearance and occur when your skin is damaged at a deeper level. 

2. Hypertrophic scars 

In rare cases, hypertrophic scars occur when your skin overproduces Collagen during the healing stage. 

3. Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation 

While PIH doesn’t technically fall under the scar category, it does appear as discoloration after acne heals. These spots and patches can be brown, red, or purple depending on an individual’s skin tone. 

Niacinamide: The Skincare Hero  

Niacinamide is a form of Vitamin B3 that is found in nuts, fish, and poultry. The water-soluble active is artificially infused in a gamut of products like face wash, serum, moisturizer, and even sunscreen. Perfect for all skin types -Niacinamide upholds overall skin health by preventing TEWL, boosting barrier health, and promoting healing. In the upcoming sections, we learn how Niacinamide addresses acne and scarring. 

Niacinamide For Acne 

Topical application of Niacinamide helps with acne in the following ways - 

1. It cuts excess sebum to maintain a balanced and healthy microbiome – minimizing breakouts in the process.  

2. Niacinamide can also be summoned during the 'acne prevention stage' as it prevents clogged pores. 

3. Packed with anti-inflammatory properties, Niacinamide soothes redness and swelling -- making it the perfect fit for acne-prone skin. 

Niacinamide For Acne Scars 

Niacinamide helps fill acne scars and depressions in the following ways- 

1. As we know, Niacinamide is an efficient brightening agent. It fades PIH or Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation by curbing melanin distribution across the skin cells. 

2.. Topical application of Niacinamide stimulates Collagen production to ensure an even skin texture. It also promotes healthy cellular renewal, doubling down on efforts for reduced scarring. 

3. Additionally, Niacinamide bolsters the skin barrier (a.k.a. the lipid barrier) to prevent further breakouts and scarring. This sturdy barrier ensures water retention in the skin for a healthy recovery process.

How To Use Niacinamide In Your Daily Routine  

Now that you’re well-versed in the benefits of Niacinamide for acne and scarring – it's time to incorporate a product into your routine. Here are a few things you should bear in mind 

1. If you’re a beginner, pick a serum concentration between 10 to 15%.  

2. Do conduct a patch test before using the Niacinamide serum on your face. This intermediate step reduces the risk of flare-ups.  

3. Start using the Niacinamide serum once or twice in your weekly skincare rotation. You can amp up the frequency if your skin responds well.  

4. Apply the Niacinamide serum only after cleansing your face. A gentle, pH-balancing cleanser removes dirt, grime, and dead cells from the pores, ensuring better absorption (and therefore, better efficacy of your treatment).  

5. Use a light hand to apply the serum on your face. 

6. Once the treatment absorbs into the skin, use a light, gel-based moisturizer to lock the formula.  

7. As active ingredients can cause photosensitivity in some individuals, don’t skimp on sunscreen. People with oily or acne-prone skin can try Foxtale’s Mattifying Sunscreen. This broad-spectrum sunscreen ensures formidable sun protection while bestowing a matte finish on the skin. 

Conclusion  

Acne such as nodules, cystic lumps, and pimples often leave angry scars. These marks or depressions appear when your skin is in self-healing mode and can impact your confidence. Luckily, skincare workhorse Niacinamide addresses both acne and scars with its application. It prevents clogged pores, cuts excess sebum, soothes inflammation, boosts Collagen production, and ensures healthy cellular renewal – making it the perfect remedy for acne-prone skin. 

Passionate about beauty, Srishty’s body of work spans 5 years. She loves novel makeup techniques, latest skincare trends, and pop culture references. When she isn’t working, you will find her reading, Netflix-ing or trying to bake something in her k...

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Passionate about beauty, Srishty’s body of work spans 5 years. She loves novel makeup techniques, latest skincare trends, and pop culture references. When she isn’t working, you will find her reading, Netflix-ing or trying to bake something in her k...

Read more

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