Niacinamide and Tretinoin: A complementary skincare approach

Table of Content:
Can you use them together? | How to get a prescription? | Benefits of using tretinoin and niacinamide together | Explore Miiskin treatments | What is niacinamide? | What is tretinoin?

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If you’re using tretinoin, you may be wondering whether niacinamide can help reduce the dryness, peeling, and irritation that often come with retinoid use. The good news is that niacinamide and tretinoin are often considered a highly complementary skincare combination, especially for people dealing with acne, redness, uneven skin tone, or a weakened skin barrier.

Tretinoin works by accelerating skin cell turnover to treat acne and signs of aging, while niacinamide helps support the skin barrier, improve hydration, and calm inflammation. When used correctly, combining niacinamide with tretinoin may help improve tolerability while supporting clearer, smoother-looking skin.

In this guide, dermatologist Dr. Alpana Mohta explains how niacinamide and tretinoin work together, the benefits of combining them, potential side effects, and how to safely add both ingredients into your skincare routine.

If tretinoin irritation has made it difficult to stay consistent with treatment, personalized guidance may help. Through Miiskin, you can get an online consultation with licensed dermatologists and receive a customized prescription skincare plan designed around your skin type, tolerance, and treatment goals (including tretinoin-based formulas when appropriate).

Can you use tretinoin and niacinamide together?

Dr. Mohta says that yes, absolutely! You can use them as separate products because their synergistic effects offer multiple benefits for the skin. You can also request a single compounded formulation.

What are the benefits of using niacinamide and tretinoin together?

Reduced skin irritation

Tretinoin can be quite irritating to the skin, especially when it is first introduced into a skincare routine. Niacinamide’s anti-inflammatory properties can help counteract some of this irritation and dryness caused by tretinoin.

Addresses multiple skin concerns  

Niacinamide and tretinoin can target acne, acne scars, dark spots, fine lines, wrinkles, uneven skin tone and texture at the same time.

Enhanced efficacy

The anti-inflammatory properties of niacinamide with the cell turnover benefits of tretinoin can provide enhanced results in addressing various skin concerns like acne, pigmentation, and signs of aging.

How to get a prescription for niacinamide and tretinoin?

For just $59, you can request a prescription for a blended formula that includes niacinamide and tretinoin. Simply spend a few minutes answering questions about your condition, upload skin photos, and specify the formulation you desire, if medically adequate, your dermatologist will issue a prescription. Remember to choose Foothills as your preferred pharmacy and once your prescription is issued, you can order it right on Miiskin. Most Foothills skincare formulas are $48.99.

What is niacinamide and what is it used for?

Dr. Mohta says that niacinamide strengthens skin’s protective barrier, helps retain moisture, and promotes the production of proteins and ceramides. It also aids in skin cell development and boosts cellular energy levels.

Due to the many benefits it has on the skin, niacinamide is a widely used ingredient used in cosmetics for barrier repair, aging skin, pigment correction and acne. For aging skin, niacinamide smoothens wrinkles and refines surface texture. It also has anti-inflammatory properties, which help improve conditions like acne and rosacea⁶.

Benefits of niacinamide

Strengthens skin barrier

Niacinamide helps improve the skin’s barrier function, leading to decreased water loss and increased hydration⁷.

Reduces sebum production

Niacinamide can help regulate the production of sebum (oil), which can be beneficial for those with oily or acne-prone skin⁸.

Treats hyperpigmentation

Niacinamide can help treat hyperpigmentation, which means it can lighten dark spots and even out skin tone⁹.

Anti-aging properties

Niacinamide may help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles¹⁰.

Anti-inflammatory

Niacinamide has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help calm and soothe skin, making it beneficial for conditions like acne and rosacea¹¹.

Anti-oxidant properties

Niacinamide offers protection against environmental stressors like pollution and UV radiation¹² .

Improves skin texture

The regular use of niacinamide can lead to smoother skin with a refined texture¹³.

Reduced pore appearance

Niacinamide can help reduce the size of pores over time.

Side-effects of niacinamide

Dr. Mohta says that niacinamide is generally well-tolerated, especially in topical skincare products and it doesn’t tend to cause side effects besides a rare but possible allergic reaction. 

What is tretinoin and what is it used for?

Tretinoin is a one of the best acne treatments there is and it belonging to the class of prescription retinoids. Tretinoin helps regulate different skin cells processes for example, how they develop and mature which is beneficial to manage different skin problems¹⁴.  

Benefits of tretinoin

Anti-inflammatory

Tretinoin can help decrease the inflammation associated with acne lesions, reducing discomfort¹⁵. 

Stimulates collagen production

Tretinoin inhibits collagenase, an enzyme that breaks down collagen fibers. Collagen supports the skin’s thickness, leading to a reduction in wrinkles with smoother and more youthful-looking skin¹⁶.

Stimulates cell turnover 

Tretinoin accelerates the turnover of skin cells, which involves shedding the outermost layer of dead skin cells and replacing them with new ones revealing younger skin cells¹⁷. 

Normalization of keratinization

Tretinoin helps regulate the process of keratinization which can lead to the formation of plugs within hair follicles, contributing to the development of acne breakouts¹⁸. 

Improves pigmentation

Tretinoin helps lighten sunspots, and uneven skin tone¹⁹. 

Side-effects of tretinoin

Common side effects include skin irritation, peeling, heightened sun sensitivity, dryness, redness, a tingling or burning sensation, potential hyperpigmentation in darker skin tones due to irritation, and an initial increase in breakouts, often called “tretinoin purging.” 

For guidance on how to use tretinoin effectively and safely, please refer to our comprehensive ‘How to use tretinoin guide’.

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References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3225141/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK557478
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17147561/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16766489/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12100180/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6824628/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2921764/
https://www.jwatch.org/jd199310010000004/1993/10/01/tretinoin-restores-collagen-formation-photoaged
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1729619/