â Why Niacinamide Isnât the Answer to Clearing Acne (For Everyone)
Niacinamide has become the go-to ingredient in nearly every acne serum. Itâs praised for reducing oil, calming inflammation, and minimizing pores. And yes â it can work for some people.
But here's what no one tells you:
Niacinamide isnât an acne treatment. Itâs a regulatory ingredient, not a solution for root-cause breakouts.
đ« 3 Reasons Niacinamide May Not Work (or Backfire)
1. Youâre overloading your skin barrier
Most âacne serumsâ now stack niacinamide with zinc, salicylic acid, and other actives. This sounds great â until your already-inflamed skin barrier gets overwhelmed.
The result?
Redness. Flaking. More breakouts.
2. It doesnât address acne caused by bacteria or hormonal triggers
If your breakouts come from internal imbalance, clogged follicles, or oil-loving bacteria, niacinamide wonât fix it. It might reduce redness â but the breakouts will keep coming.
3. Most niacinamide formulas are too high (and drying)
10% sounds powerful, but high-strength niacinamide can disrupt skin equilibrium, especially for Indian skin in humid or polluted environments. Youâre better off with a gentle, layered solution â not a single overhyped molecule.
đĄ Bottom line?
Niacinamide is not bad. But if youâve used it for months with no progress, your acne likely needs a formula that supports your skinâs natural microbiome, reduces inflammation without drying, and calms overactive oil glands without harsh actives.
Thatâs where Clarity Lotion  changed everything for me.