Vitamin B3 reduces risk for developing the most common skin cancers by about 25%. Doctors from Australia published this finding in the October 22nd 2015 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, the world’s most prestigious medical journal. Patients enrolled in the study took a type of vitamin B3 called nicotinamide (also called niacinamide) for a year, and within 3 months doctors observed a significantly reduced risk for developing non melanoma skin cancer (squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma) and precancerous skin lesions called actinic keratoses. The benefit was preserved for the entire year of taking the vitamin, but once patients stopped taking the vitamin the benefit went away. Doctors think nicotinamide worked by protecting patients’ skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Nicotinamide is different from the commonly available form of vitamin B3 called niacin, which commonly causes flushing, itching, and headaches. Nicotinamide does not help control cholesterol as niacin does.

 

    Nicotinamide is available without a prescription on Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Jet.com, and a variety of other online and offline retail vendors. You may also find the treatment by the name niacinamide at Amazon.com, pharmacies, and other suppliers. Take one 500 milligram capsule twice a day.