Health
Vitamin B3 May Lower Skin Cancer Recurrence
Health Points
- New research supports nicotinamide (vitamin B3) as a tool for reducing the risk of skin cancer coming back.
- The benefit is strongest when B3 is started after a first skin cancer, with up to 54% risk reduction.
- Nicotinamide is affordable, well-tolerated, and works best alongside sun protection and regular skin checks.
A new, large-scale study found that taking nicotinamide helped lower the chance of new skin cancers among those with a history of the disease. Researchers tracked nearly 34,000 patients over 25 years and noticed meaningful risk reduction, especially for those starting B3 supplementation early, after their first diagnosis.
“We were able to stratify patients by the number of prior skin cancers, finding that there was a much greater risk reduction, of more than 50 percent, when nicotinamide was started after the first skin cancer, compared to starting later after patients had developed multiple skin cancers,” Dr. Lee Wheless explains.
Most study participants who took 500 milligrams of nicotinamide twice daily for at least a month saw about a 14% overall decrease in recurrence. Those with squamous cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer, benefited significantly from the supplement.
The study authors highlight that nicotinamide appears to help the body’s cells repair DNA damage caused by sun exposure, which may help reduce future cancer risk.
“Our skin is constantly exposed to UV radiation, so our DNA repair machinery is working hard to keep up,” Dr. Wheless notes. “By improving DNA repair, those mutations don’t accumulate as rapidly.”
Experts stress that vitamin B3 is not a substitute for sun protection. The American Academy of Dermatology advises everyone to use broad-spectrum sunscreen SPF 30 or more, wear hats, and get regular skin checks.
“It won’t replace sunscreen, hats, or skin checks, but it’s a smart supplement in the right context,” says Dr. Brian Zelickson. “For high-risk patients, especially after a first skin cancer, B3 can make a meaningful difference.”
While promising, the research was based on mostly white male veterans, so more studies could help see if results are similar in a broader population.
If you have had skin cancer, speak with your healthcare provider before starting nicotinamide to see if it’s a good fit for your ongoing prevention plan.
