Why You Need Niacinamide in Your SPF

There’s an unseen battle occuring during our brilliant sunshine filled days.

You can’t see it. You can’t hear it. But it’s war.

A battle between our skin and a spectrum of environmental aggressors called the exposome.

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Understanding the Exposome

Recent research¹ has illuminated a truth we can no longer ignore: it's not just ultraviolet (UV) rays that threaten our skin's health but also visible light, infrared radiation (IRA), and pollution.

These factors are part of what is scientifically referred to as the 'skin ageing exposome'. But what does that mean?

The exposome is a term that encapsulates all of the exposure that our skin endures. It’s the total impact it has on the skin’s health and ageing process.

Scientific studies¹ have shown that external aggressors like pollution and internal factors such as nutrition and stress all play their part in skin ageing.

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Tailored for the Australasian Climate

For those living under the intense Australasian sun, the stakes are high. The sun is intense and unrelenting.

It's not simply about preventing sunburn; it's about combating the visible and invisible effects of the exposome on the skin, which include not only ageing but also the risk of skin cancers and other dermatological conditions.

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Fighting the Invisible Enemies

Incorporating antioxidants into your SPF is not just beneficial, but essential. It's a multi-pronged strategy against the varied elements of the exposome.

Antioxidants help mitigate the damaging effects of the environment, supporting skin resilience and health. This is why you’ll find antioxidants Niacinamide B3, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Kakadu Plum in our SPF FaceShield TRUE 50.

Fight the invisible enemies with an invisible tint. The FaceShield TRUE 50 blends seamlessly into all skin tones.

Prevent visible signs of ageing. Protect your skin from the exposome. Perfect your skin with our mineral only formulation.

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Choosing the Right Armour

The science supports a clear verdict: antioxidants in sunscreens are essential.

Antioxidants provide a defensive shield against the onslaught of free radicals from UV, visible light, infrared radiation, and pollution. By including antioxidants like vitamin E and niacinamide in sunscreens (HINT: you’ll find these in our SPF FaceShield TRUE 50), we offer our skin a fighting chance against the multifaceted threats posed by the exposome.

With an increased understanding of the broad-spectrum damage our skin faces, it becomes crucial to select sun protection that offers more than just UV protection.

Save cabinet space (and your skin!) with multi-tasking skincare products aka the Ultimate Cabinet Declutterers. Combat the entire range of the exposome's effects beyond UV exposure with dr.NC.

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DNA Repair and Anti-Cancer Properties

Niacinamide, or vitamin B3, has been heralded for its potent ability to repair UV damage and fortify the skin's barrier function². A dermatological study has emphasised its transformative potential, demonstrating that when niacinamide is integrated into sunscreens, it promotes DNA repair that is critical in preventing cancerous changes in keratinocytes.

Keratinocytes are the most common type of skin cells that make up the outer layer of your skin, known as the epidermis. As keratinocytes mature, they move from the bottom layer of the epidermis up to the surface, eventually becoming the dead, flat flakes of skin you can scrub away when you exfoliate.

Their lifecycle is a key part of your skin's way of protecting your body from environmental damage like pathogens, heat, UV radiation, and water loss.

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An Even Broader Spectrum: Understanding the Exposome

In-depth skin studies have further broadened our understanding of skin protection, with research proving that IRA from sunlight contributes to skin ageing by inducing MMP-1, a marker that indicates collagen breakdown³. This finding shows the inadequacy of standard sunscreens against IRA and visible light, and validates the need for specifically designed antioxidants for comprehensive protection against UV skin damage and skin cancers. Enter: FaceShield TRUE 50.

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Antioxidant Niacinamide in Your SPF Outshines the Rest

As the science and understanding of skincare evolves, so does our approach to protection. Skincare is now just as much about holistic protection as it is about treatment, making it vital to embrace niacinamide-enriched, antioxidant-packed sunscreens. Taking a proactive approach towards comprehensive skin health enables us to enjoy the Australasian sun with confidence and peace of mind.

By opting for dr.NC’s innovative formulations, you're not only guarding your skin against the traditional threats of UV rays but our FaceShield TRUE 50 also shields you from the harsh UV rays and supports the skin in its constant battle against the broad spectrum of environmental aggressors included in the exposome.

 

¹ Krutmann, J. et al. (2017) ‘The skin aging exposome’, Journal of Dermatological Science, 85(3), pp. 152–161.

² Reza Namazi, M. (2003) ‘Nicotinamide-containing sunscreens for use in Australasian countries and cancer-provoking conditions’, Medical Hypotheses, 60(4), pp. 544–545.

³ Grether‐Beck, S. et al. (2014) ‘Effective photoprotection of human skin against infrared a radiation by topically applied antioxidants: Results from a vehicle controlled, double‐blind, Randomized Study’, Photochemistry and Photobiology, 91(1), pp. 248–250.