Effect of myristyl nicotinate on retinoic acid therapy
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free skin care · Mon May 24, 2010 7:56 am

I found this abstract of a study on the effect of myristyl nicotinate (a component of vitamin B3 (niacin) that is similar to niacinamide and is the ingredient used in the NIA24 products) on retinoic acid (Retin-A/tretinoin) therapy. It basically says that used in conjunction with tretinoin, it reduces the side effects of such without have any negative impact on the efficacy and in some cases, improves the efficacy. I do know that niacinamide, by itself and/or combined with glucosamine, can reduce hyperpigmentation so if it also reduces side effects of the tretinoin, I would love to try it.

Has anyone tried myristyl nicotinate while using Retin A?

Finally, I am currently on Obagi, which discourages the use of moisturizers. The only product I know that has myristyl nicotinate in it is a moisturizer from NIA24 and I'm wondering if there is a way to incorporate this into my routine without interfering with the efficacy of the Obagi system. Does anyone have any thoughts on using this product with Obagi? Does anyone know of a serum that can be purchased or otherwise DIY made that doesn't have moisturizing properties per se? Can you buy myristyl nicotinate as an ingredient like you can LAA?

The abstract of the study and link to it are below.

Exp Dermatol. 2007 Nov;16(11):927-35.

Effect of myristyl nicotinate on retinoic acid therapy for facial photodamage.
Jacobson MK, Kim H, Coyle WR, Kim M, Coyle DL, Rizer RL, Jacobson EL.

Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, and Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Niadyne Development Inc.,Tucson, AZ 85724, USA. mjacobson@pharmacy.arizona.edu

Abstract
Based on the hypothesis that skin barrier impairment is a contributor to side-effects associated with retinoic acid therapy, a double-blind, placebo-controlled pilot study examined the combined use of retinoic acid with myristyl nicotinate (MN), a lipophilic derivative of niacin that enhances skin barrier function, in female subjects with mild to moderate facial photodamage. The study involved a 1-month run-in period with placebo or MN prior to initiation of retinoic acid therapy for 3 months. Analysis of skin biopsies revealed that retinoic acid therapy resulted in stratum corneum thinning of approximately 25% (P = 0.006 versus baseline) that was ameliorated by MN use (P < 0.005). Therapy resulted in an increased rate of transepidermal water loss (TEWL) of approximately 45% (P = 0.001 versus baseline) and use of MN protected against the increase in TEWL with the strongest protection provided by prior use of MN (P = 0.056 versus placebo). MN use reduced the incidence of side-effects of the therapy and again prior use provided the greatest reduction of side-effects. Subjects showed statistically significant clinical improvement (P < 0.05 versus baseline) during the study. MN use did not interfere with any clinical improvement parameters and improved effects on temple laxity (P = 0.01 versus placebo). Analysis of changes in epidermal thickness, Ki67-positive cells and intensity of loricrin staining demonstrated that MN either improved or did not interfere with retinoic acid efficacy. These results show that prior and concurrent use of MN can mitigate barrier impairment and improve the tolerability of retinoic acid therapy for facial photodamage without interfering with efficacy.

PMID: 17927576 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17927576

free skin care · Mon May 24, 2010 12:40 pm

I used the NIA24 along with Retin A. I don't have issues with Retin A, so I can't say if it helped with side effects. I know there are people here who love NIA24, but I do not like it. After about 3 months using it, it left my skin with a peachy skin tone.

On the side, I would not use the NIA with the Obagi until you are at least 12 weeks along. That is just due to the process of obagi in trying to make your skin healthier and not use the moisturizers daily. You could use the NIA24 on occasion with the Obagi if you are excessively dry, but that is all I would do until you are on maintenance. Just my 2 cents!

free skin care · Mon May 24, 2010 2:08 pm

Rileygirl,
Which NIA24 product did you use?

Kristy,
I've only had samples of their products, but I thought they would be good ones to incorporate in with maintenance. However, I do use the sunscreen and it seems to be very effective for me.

free skin care · Mon May 24, 2010 2:24 pm

kims wrote:

Rileygirl,
Which NIA24 product did you use?

I used the skin strengthening complex, the scrub (which I really liked), and the sunscreen.

free skin care · Mon May 24, 2010 3:02 pm

Kims, when you say effective, are you referring to the UVA/UVB protection aspect only or other anti-aging aspects of the product?

Riley, is there a reason why you didn't continue using the scrub?

free skin care · Mon May 24, 2010 3:14 pm

Kristy,
After doing the Nuderm system and going through all of that, I do not want the pigmentation problems returning. So far, using the NIA24 sunscreen has kept that at bay.

As far as anti-aging goes, it's hard to tell since I use more than one product.

free skin care · Mon May 24, 2010 4:24 pm

its_kristy wrote:

Riley, is there a reason why you didn't continue using the scrub?

Nope, just haven't repurchased it!

free skin care · Mon May 24, 2010 7:33 pm

I use the Nia 24 SSC about an hour after retin A at night (and also half an hour after c serum in the AM), and I've much less irritation from the tretinoin as a result. I also use the Canyon Ranch eye cream in the am, but really want to try the Nia 24 eye product as it gets great reviews. (the CR tends to spread/ travel a bit, which I am not a fan of).

I've recently purchased some Wexler products, which also have the same ingredient, myristyl nicotinate, to see how they compare. I'm not sure of their percentages compare strengthwise. Wexler calls the ingredient "Niacyl", but it is in fact the Niadyne product, myristyl nicotinate.

The only other products that have this ingredient besides Nia 24 (other than the Fekkai "More" shampoo)for face that I know of are Canyon Ranch, Some but not all of the Patricia Wexler line, and a few of the Bigelow products, such as the Multi Nutrient Repair serum:
http://www.bigelowchemists.com/product_info.php/cPath/356_373_362/products_id/6060

I know that Niadyne has only licensed the ingredient to a few select manufacturers, and is not available for purchase otherwise.

I really love the ingredient and it has transformed my skin to some extent. After 2 weeks I noticed some moles lightening (if fact they became skin toned), and my skin felt very soft. Now after 3 months I'm noticing that my fine lines around my eyes and on my neck are very much improved.

Note that I have also been using the AALS, which I started about a month after Nia 24, which I am sure has also contributed!

free skin care · Mon May 24, 2010 9:09 pm

Snowy--thanks for the great feedback on the ingredient itself as well as your experience with the products that contain it. I am excited and hopeful about the NIA24 line and am definitely buying the eye cream for immediate use and the SSC at a later point. I'm disappointed the myristyl nicotinate is not available for purchase as an ingredient but it's what I suspected after doing some preliminary research. Please let us kmow what you think of the Wexler products.

What is AALS you refer to?

Also, I see the NIA24 sunscreen is mineral sunscreen. I'm not sure what that means and how it's different from physical sunscreen. The active ingredients are listed as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Can someone enlighten me?

free skin care · Mon May 24, 2010 9:20 pm

its_kristy,

AALS is anti-aging light stim, there is a huge thread on it here:

http://www.essentialdayspa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?tid=29297

On the sunscreen I think the mineral and physical are just 2 names for the same thing? If anyone has a different take please correct me. Smile

free skin care · Tue May 25, 2010 12:11 am

its_kristy wrote:

Snowy--thanks for the great feedback on the ingredient itself as well as your experience with the products that contain it. I am excited and hopeful about the NIA24 line and am definitely buying the eye cream for immediate use and the SSC at a later point. I'm disappointed the myristyl nicotinate is not available for purchase as an ingredient but it's what I suspected after doing some preliminary research. Please let us kmow what you think of the Wexler products.

What is AALS you refer to?

Also, I see the NIA24 sunscreen is mineral sunscreen. I'm not sure what that means and how it's different from physical sunscreen. The active ingredients are listed as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Can someone enlighten me?

You're welcome! Looking forward to hearing how you feel about the eye cream! Will keep you posted on the wexler products, I don't really have high hopes but you never know...

Yep DM you're right, mineral = physical.

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