Could This $10 Vitamin Lower Your Risk of Skin Cancer?

You Should Know: A new study published in JAMA Dermatology has found an over-the-counter supplement — nicotinamide, a derivative of vitamin B3 — is linked to a reduction in non-melanoma skin cancers in people who’ve already had skin cancer.

Going Deeper: This study looked at about 34,000 veterans who’d been diagnosed with skin cancer. Researchers found those who took 500 mg of nicotinamide twice a day for at least a month after being diagnosed with their first skin cancer had a 54% reduced risk of developing another skin cancer, compared to patients who didn’t take the supplement. It was also associated with a 14% overall reduction in the risk of getting future skin cancers. Dermatologists say nicotinamide has anti-inflammatory properties and can help skin cells repair themselves after UV damage.

Takeaway: The effects were more pronounced in people who started taking nicotinamide (AKA niacinamide) soon after their first diagnosis. This was a retrospective study, so other factors could have affected the results. Plus, the participants were all older and mostly male.

Bottom Line: Don’t give up your sunscreen (we certainly won’t stop using our favorite), as it’s unclear if taking nicotinamide can prevent skin cancer if you’ve never had it. Niacin (another form of B3) doesn’t have the same effects — only the one that ends in “–amide” does.