Acne.org Products
I think it is very simple to test for low stomach acidity. Just take one tablet with a meal. If you feel fine, then you have low stomach acid. If you feel like your stomach is burning or uncomfortable or too warm, then drink something creamy. A bottle of pills is $10 at the health food store. Each of my tablets is 500mg. If you are very nervous about doing this test, you can test one 250mg tablet and then two at the next meal, and so on and so forth.
Anytime you take the pills, it should be WITH a meal. Do not take it on an empty stomach or you'll become very queezy. 
Okay, I am beginning to see a correlation between most of the successful treatments on this forum. They all are the underlying cures to the same medical problem: Hypochlorhydria, also known as weak stomach acid. And, yes, weak stomach acid is hIGHLY tied to acne but we hear very little about it. It also plays with the hormones.
Niacin: Niacin is critical for the release of histamine, a key player behind stomach acid secretion. One study shows that a 3 week therapeutic supplementation with niacin completely eliminated hypochlorhydria (weak stomach acid) and symptoms tied in with it.
Other treatments for weak stomach acid in the medical community? Apple cider vinegar. It stimulates the body to produce more stomach acid. This is also a very successful treatment for acne.
Zinc supplementation can also fix hypochlorhydria because zinc is needed to make stomach acid. Oddly, zinc also greatly helps people's acne.
Another successful weak stomach acid treatment? Hydrochloric acid tablets taken at each meal time. It is also a successful treatment for people with acne on this forum.
So now we all have low stomach acid. A few months ago (and many times in the past) we had people insisting we all have poor liver function. Or we all have candida. And so on.
That's hardly most of the successful treatments on this forum. I've no reason to think I had any digestion issues. Same with the tons of Atkins and South Beach dieters whose skin cleared from the cutting out sugars and refined carbs. That doesn't mean plenty of people don't have digestion issues, though. Most probably have numerous issues going on and maybe fooling with one issue will help. But most likely they need to address more. Like sleep/stress/circadian cycle/adrenal health, liver health, nutrient deficiencies, insulin sensitivity...
Zinc helps acne in numerous ways, btw. DHT inhibitor, inflammation, sleep, collagen, immune system, Hyperkeratinization, thyroid function, lipid metabolism, insulin release... Niacin also helps in numerous ways.
Hi All
I started taking 500mg of Niacin "Flush" about a week ago. I have noticed dramatic improvement - No new breakout since the first day and all my old spots are disapearing. I had cystic breakouts on my chin before.
Now I have to say that I also stopped consuming dairy (Milk and Yogurt) about a month ago and started on Proactiv about 3 weeks ago.
The same day I also started dabbing on tea tree oil (wet cotton ball/one drop of tea tree oil) to the affected areas the same day I started taking the Niacin.
I am not sure if was a combination of all or just one/But this regimine has really really worked for me and I am amazed!
I dont mind the flush either/it is kind of relaxing and I like to feel things working anyway - but some people I know have stated this as severe (boys!)
Anyway - Give it a go - It is cheap and seems to be effective and from what I have researched. safe too.
I take my Niacin at night before bed... I break open the capsule and mix it with water... This way I flush in minutes and can control it. I dont like not knowing when it is going to happen as i got bright and I mean beet bright, red.
Good luck!
Hi All
I started taking 500mg of Niacin "Flush" about a week ago. I have noticed dramatic improvement - No new breakout since the first day and all my old spots are disapearing. I had cystic breakouts on my chin before.
Now I have to say that I also stopped consuming dairy (Milk and Yogurt) about a month ago and started on Proactiv about 3 weeks ago.
The same day I also started dabbing on tea tree oil (wet cotton ball/one drop of tea tree oil) to the affected areas the same day I started taking the Niacin.
I am not sure if was a combination of all or just one/But this regimine has really really worked for me and I am amazed!
I dont mind the flush either/it is kind of relaxing and I like to feel things working anyway - but some people I know have stated this as severe (boys!)
Anyway - Give it a go - It is cheap and seems to be effective and from what I have researched. safe too.
I take my Niacin at night before bed... I break open the capsule and mix it with water... This way I flush in minutes and can control it. I dont like not knowing when it is going to happen as i got bright and I mean beet bright, red.
Good luck!
Let us know how long the results last for. I know for me atleast and I think a couple of more users had the same problems that the effect was super good the first week - 2 weeks and after that subsided.
Guys I just wanted to add a post to this thread (keep it going!) to say that I took my first Niacin Flush yesterday night and I felt it! It felt scary and wicked at the same time! It was only one capsule of 500mg.
Search Niacin flush on iherb or vitacost and get the twin labs one, that's the only one I know that has flush and flush is the only niacin variety that opens blood vessels 2-3 bigger and is therefore often prescribed to people with cholesterol, and let's hope it works for us!
Since I'm thinking about taking Niacin to hopefully clear up my acne, over the past few weeks I have researched the different forms of Niacin to see what the pros and cons of each one and I have found some interesting information about the different forms.
There is some scientific studies that show that the non-flush form (Niacinamide) has been shown to inhibit SIRT, while the flush form (Nicotinic Acid) does not inhibit SIRT. The inhibition of SIRT has been linked to aging of the skin. It has also been linked to other pro-aging issue in the body.
So when choosing...if you can take the Nicotinic or flush type then that is probably a better choice since it doesn't inhibit SIRT and potentially cause pro-aging issues.
Here is some studies about niacinamide and inhibition of SIRT (add www at front):
.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12736687?dopt=Abstract
.jbc.org/content/277/47/45099.full#SEC2
LC
What's SIRT inhibition? I tried googling it but it came up with fancy ... stuff. If we're all taking Niacin, shouldn't we be worried about it then?
I didn't flush last night guys! Weird. I'm trying it again in ten minutes.
Actually it is SIRT1...I forgot the 1. It has to do with aging in the heart, brain, DNA, etc. and overall lifespan aging.
When SIRT1 is inhibited there is the potential for faster aging in certain parts of the body and/or overall shortening of lifespan.
Sorry for late reply, I'm taking 500mg niacin flush. 4 times so far.
Does anyone know if anything will reduce niacin flush symptoms? (eg. eating and then taking the pill?)
Because I've been getting severe itching (the redness and flush I can deal with). Like REALLY bad itching. I apply cortisone and it helps a little ...
Sorry for late reply, I'm taking 500mg niacin flush. 4 times so far.
Does anyone know if anything will reduce niacin flush symptoms? (eg. eating and then taking the pill?)
Because I've been getting severe itching (the redness and flush I can deal with). Like REALLY bad itching. I apply cortisone and it helps a little ...
that better not be 500mg 4 times a day
go down to 250 and just split the pill in half and you'll have a minor flush. then eventually your body is gonna need more to flush and then make your way up to 500.
I'm 36 years old and tried Acne.org products for 8 months and the effects caused me to have clear, ugly dry cracked skin that hurt like you wouldn't believe. Then I saw this post on Niacin. I've been using full flush Niacin along with Dan's Jojoba oil and both moisturizers for the past 5 months and have experienced clear, moist, youthful skin. I'm jumping up and down in excitement.
For me the BP was too much, and the Niacin (with immediate flushing) has replaced it.
I did at first regret the BP effects on my skin and had felt that I'd aged significantly on Dan's full program, but the niacin along with Dan's products ( minus the BP) have done a 180 and reversed the aged look.
Thanks so much for this post. It changed my life. Niacin is my cure for acne. I guess it was the missing piece in my diet. In addition my cholesterol has also balanced out to better-than-normal levels since taking the niacin. It killed two birds with one stone!
-Cassandra
The itching means that your skin is releasing histamine. (you probably have allergies) It's not a bad thing at all and should be considered as part of the cleansing of the pores and will be reduced with time. To reduce the itching feeling all you need to do is take some claritin or aspirin along just before the niacin. Also eating a meal along with taking the niacin also helps.
Sorry for late reply, I'm taking 500mg niacin flush. 4 times so far.
Does anyone know if anything will reduce niacin flush symptoms? (eg. eating and then taking the pill?)
Because I've been getting severe itching (the redness and flush I can deal with). Like REALLY bad itching. I apply cortisone and it helps a little ...
that better not be 500mg 4 times a day
go down to 250 and just split the pill in half and you'll have a minor flush. then eventually your body is gonna need more to flush and then make your way up to 500.
Niacinamide
i am going to order 60 pills for 4.99 in the UK from natures remedy.
what kind of acne is this good for? non inflammed/ or am i wasting my time.
i need it to stop the occasional cyst and white heads. if it can help with discolouration that would be a bonus
please help
Ok, are we talking about Niacinamide or Niacin (as inositol hexanicotinate) here? both are flush-free . which is better?
I understand the 500mg dosage thing but not which form of niacin is better
As I understand it you get the active form of Niacin (Niacin), the nonactive form (Inositol hexanicotinate), and then Nicotinamide or niacinamide--same thing, different name.
Get either Niacin, or niacinamide/Nicotinamide. I haven't heard of or seen much evidence for the benifits of inositol hexanicotinate
Just to add my experience:I've been taking No-Flush Niacin - Inositol Hexanicotinate for around 5 months and it's working, totally clear at the moment.
ok, Im taking this form as well. When do you take it and is it with meal, right before meal, or on an empty stomach??
I take it right before a meal although that's basically the same as taking it with the meal because the stomach juices won't have broken down the capsule in that time anyway.
Hope it works for you.
I also take 50mg of zinc with another meal, not sure if this makes any difference though.
If I take a B-100 complex vitamin pill which contains 100 mg niacinamide, is it ok to take normal niacin (300 mg) separately too?
Also, I'm confused. Should niacinamide be totally avoided (because of the SIRT1 stuff) or is that only in major doses and not a significant issue? Thanks!
Just to clear some things up, if you're taking a Bcomplex (like myself) that is a B50 or B100 that's fine. You can still take niacin separately without any detrimental impact (just don't overdose with a dosage of a several grams). However, a Bcomplex is more than enough.
It's debatable but people say flushing = blood vessels becoming wider = also releasing histamine. Personally I take niacin flush 500mg before bed. Sometimes you will feel the flush, sometimes you won't. Trial and error.
I only tried it for 4 nights. Warning, that it's best to take it on a full stomach with food, or shortly thereafter. I experienced extreme irritation, itching, redness and rash-like symptoms for two nights out of the four.
Take supplements in low doses, try looking at the holistic forums to change your lifestyle and diet and pop a Bcomplex every few days.
Good luck guys.