So, I added Metazine gel to my existing regimen. Its a topical niacinamide gel (5%). I've been doing a bit of research on topical niacinamide and it seems like a really great skin care ingredient. There are tons of articles on pubmed about its use for acne, hyperpigmentation, skin-hydration, wrinkle reduction and its anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and anti-aging effects.

I don't get much acne anymore - mostly a few blackheads here and there, and the occasional small inflamed lesion. I think I am still acne prone, but have been able to manage the problem with my topical treatments and with diet/supplements. But, since niacinamide seems to have so many beneficial effects on the skin and is good for those who are acne-prone, I wanted to give it a try.

I have used it for two nights, with no adverse reactions so far. Its obviously too soon to say much more than that, but will say that my skin has felt very soft when I wake up in the morning!

Here are Metazine's ingredients:

de-ionizied water, Aloe barbadensis leaf juice, niacinamide, Hamamelis virginiana, kosher vegetable glycerin, propylene glycol, Carbomer, TEA, Methyl/Propylparaben

I'm also using a 4% nicotinamide gel, attempting to convert from BP to that gradually so my skin doesn't think "what....the.....fuck" and go berserk.

Nicotinamide is also supposed to be great for red marks.

I've used it exclusively on my forehead for around a month and haven't had a single breakout, and I've used it in conjunction with BP on my cheeks for a couple of weeks and things seem to be going ok.....fingers crossed.

Glad things are going well so far! Is the product over-the-counter or prescription?

I don't believe you can buy Nicam Gel over the counter anywhere in the UK, but you can get it apparently by prescription. However, I've been ordering mine off a pharmacy website and it's arrived without the need for a presciption.

The same manufacturers also make the same topical under the name of Freederm which is freely available over the counter, however when bought under this brand, you get less product for more money for some reason.

I've heard of both of those. I do the same thing with Finacea - its RX in the U.S., but can be legally ordered from an Australian pharmacy since it is OTC there. Its a little less pricey that way!

How are you getting on with it? I started using some oral vitamin B3 in the form of niacinamide (not niacin) but it's too early to say if it's helping.

So far so good! I know it takes awhile to see the full results (probably 2-3 months), but at least I'm not getting any adverse reactions to it so far. And it is making my skin feel more hydrated in the mornings.

I tried the oral niacinamide for about a week and a half, but it made me very fatigued. I guess sedation is one of the side effects. I stopped taking it for now.

I don't know whether it was you that asked in another thread if oral niacinamide made you tired, but last week I seemed quite fatigued for a couple of days, far more so than usual. I mean, I slept for 7 hours and woke up feeling like I hadn't slept a wink. It seems to have passed though, so I'm not sure whether I can attribute that to the B3 or not.

The topical stuff seems to help very much with active spots - I had one develop on friday and is basically just a raised red mark now, less than 2 days after.

Do you get red or brown marks and if so, have you noticed them fading faster when using it?

Yeah that was my post about getting fatigue from the niacinamide pills. I thought about trying to get a lower dose supplement and seeing if that helps. I was only taking 500 mg, once a day - but I am really petite, so it still may have been a lot for my body weight. I might look for some 100 mg pills and take 2 per day or something. Glad the fatigue effects wore off for you.

I do get some red and brown marks - not a lot though. I haven't been using the topical niacinamide long enough to say if it helps fade marks or not. Hoping that it does though!

Its been a week since I started using the niacinamide gel and I'm still really liking it!

where are you getting your niacinamide gel from willow?

I got it online from a company called LifeLink - the product is list on their website - www.lifelinknet.com

cheers willow.

Keep updating im reading and interested

I was actually thinking of making my own niacinamide lotion or gel/serum type thing. But I might give this a try first.

Also willow Aloe vera gel leaves a shiny film on your face, does Metazine do that? Is it suitable to wear at day time? Could you apply sunscreen over it and it not ball off?

thanks for any help

I'll definitely keep updating my experience with this. Still no adverse reactions or breakouts or anything like that.

I haven't noticed any shine after I apply the metazine, but I do use it in the evening. Not sure if sunscreen would ball off or not. I use another water based hydrating gel in the morning that contains aloe, and it doesn't give me that problem though.

willow,

One more question - does the metazine gel leave a film on the skin? Or does it absorb fully?

thanks

It seems to absorb quite well - I don't notice it leaving any kind of film on my skin. I should try using it during the day to better answer your questions though! Its harder to assess when I am just putting it on my face right before I go to bed.

Still smooth sailing with the Metazine Gel. It doesn't seem to be clogging me at all, although it will probably take another month or so to know for sure. My skin seems very well-hydrated and has a nice glow to it. I'll be curious to see if my esthetician notices any difference in my skin during my facial on Friday. She's been treating me for a few years now, so she knows my skin pretty well at this point.

I've been using the Metazine for almost a month now and I am still liking it. No irritation or other side effects, and it does not clog my pores (always the first big tests, right?). It seems to be making my skin less sensitive to products - I used to get stinging from products once or twice a week, and I am getting less of that now. I also noticed less stinging when I got my monthly chemical peel last week. The stinging was milder, but I still peeled just as much afterwards.

The Nicam Gel still seems to be working well too.

Willow, do you suffer from dryness from the gel, and if so, do you moisturise?

I use a moisturizer in the morning (Cranberry Cream and/or Hydrating Emulsion), but not at night when I use the Metazine. It doesn't seem to dry my skin out though. I think there are quite a few differences between the Metazine and the Nicam gel in terms of ingredients. The Metazine has a couple of ingredients that probably help prevent dryness (aloe and glycerin). I didn't see any hydrating ingredients in the Nicam though.