Over the last 6 years, Dr. Sophie Bellanger, Principal Investigator at A*STAR Skin Research Labs (A*SRL), and Dr. John Oblong, Principal Scientist at P&G (Beauty Technology Division, Cincinnati, USA), have teamed up to understand the role of the bioactive molecule niacinamide (NAM, a form of Vitamin B3 found in skincare products) on skin ageing, leading to several research articles published in major dermatology journals. Their research findings include:
- Modulation of epidermal stemness by NAM: as age advances, epidermal stem cells (which allow the constant renewal of the epidermis over a lifetime) are subjected to both chronological and environmental factors and are lost over time. NAM slows down this process through different mechanisms, involving modulation of stem cell differentiation and senescence, which help maintain skin homeostasis as we age.
- Regarding the underlying molecular pathways, they could show that NAM plays a significant role in maintaining metabolism and promoting DNA repair during photoageing induced by UV exposure.
- Lastly, UV light, urban dust, and diesel exhaust take a toll on the skin, leading to an increase in fine lines and wrinkles, loss of firmness, hyperpigmented spots as well as other skin disorders. When tested under a controlled environment, NAM helps reduce environmental stress-induced inflammation by inhibiting inflammatory agents like cytokines and prostaglandins (molecules generated from stress).
All these data overarchingly support the usage of NAM as it provides a level of protection when the skin is exposed to pollutants or sunlight.